Sometimes, it can be easy to say no. "No new taxes!" "No more utility rate hikes!" No to this candidate or that candidate.
But fighting temptations, especially when we can rationalize giving in to them, is difficult.
Jesus was confronted with three temptations tailor-made for him, just as ours are for us. On the surface, they sounded reasonable.
"If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread," the Devil said.
Yes, Jesus was hungry. On the surface, this temptation was for him to take care of his own physical need. But it went much deeper than that: namely, it tested his obedience and fidelity to God. If he created bread in the wilderness, Jesus would have engaged in an act of willful disobedience to God. Such behavior would undercut Jesus’ identity as the obedient, loyal son of God.
To the Devil’s temptation, Jesus said, "No!" He would stand firm in his obedience to God, no matter what.
The second temptation was to cast himself off the temple roof. This way, Jesus could prove he was God’s son by demanding God keep him from harm.
Again, Jesus responded with no. He was not going to intentionally demand that God prove himself. He was not going to prove his unique relationship with God by making a public display of himself.
The third temptation was to worship the Devil, and the Devil would see to it that Jesus controlled all the world's kingdoms. Jesus was being offered the keys to secular power. He would be seen as a hero.
Jesus responded again with "No!" Then he said, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him."
Stones into bread and a high-dive spectacle would have wowed the people. Restoring the people of Israel to God during his lifetime would have elated the people.
But it would have cost Jesus everything because he would have been disobedient to God. He would have been unfaithful to God.
Saying no is sometimes necessary to say yes to following God's path. Jesus said no to the Devil because he already said yes to God.
In matters of faith, you can say no to this world's powers and principalities by saying yes to the ultimate power and authority — God.
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: Fight temptations and follow God's path