Temptation 2...Don't You Know Who You Are?

Several years ago I was coaching a soccer team.  We were undefeated.  As a matter of fact we hadn't been beaten in two years and were the current champions.  We headed into our second championship tournament on a 18 game winning streak.  We had barely allowed a goal and had scored goals in bunches.
Then something strange happened.  We lost.  I couldn't understand it.  A team that we had destroyed twice during the season somehow managed to pull out a win against us.  Looking back now I can see that we were so full of pride that we didn't prepare like we should have.

Matthew 4:5-7
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Pride is the second temptation that Satan tried with Christ.  Satan took Jesus up on top of the temple and told Him to throw Himself off.  Satan even quoted a scripture to Christ saying "He shall give his angels charge of you..." Satan was appealing to Jesus' pride.  He was telling Jesus, "Don't you know who You are?" 
Jesus saw through it.  He told Satan "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."  God doesn't serve us.  He is not in our realm.  We serve God.  We are in His realm.  We should always look to do what He wants us to do.  We need to guard against pride.  We need to trust God and work for Him.

Heavenly Father, you are great!  Help us to avoid pride and instead humbly serve You.  In Jesus name, amen.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.