Stay Alert
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit
into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. – Matthew 4:1
Satan is a sore loser. Even though he has already lost,
he continues to plague God’s people. We are temped again and again but we have
the power within us to resist the devil. If we use it.
Jesus gave us a perfect example to follow. Of course,
we aren’t perfect people. Still, it is a lesson all of us should consider,
especially on the tough days. The devil waited until Jesus was at his most
vulnerable to tempt Him. Satan does the same with us.
Jesus was hungry. He’d fasted for forty days and
nights. Can you imagine? And that is where the first temptation came.
“If you are the Son of God, command
these stones to become loves of bread.” – Matthew 4:3
Don’t miss the word “if”. That’s one of Satan’s most
powerful words. He wants to make us doubt who we are as God’s children.
Jesus was ready with Scripture. Are you? Can you, will
you, confront Satan’s lies with God’s Word?
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:4
Satan wasn’t finished. He never really is. Satan will
continue to attack us, again and again. The one thing the devil doesn’t want is
for God’s children to walk by faith.
“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.’” – Matthew 4:6
Do you ever challenge God? Do you test His love for
you? Do you ask God again and again to prove His love by giving you the desires
of your flesh?
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to
the test.’” – Matthew 4:7
The devil’s attack continued. Just like with us. Have
you ever gone through a season where you wondered where God was and why He was
allowing the repeated attacks against you? (Read Job for a good lesson on
this.) Most of us have been there. The closer we come to God, the more intense
the attacks from Satan.
And he said to him, “All these I will
give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” – Matthew 4:9
Oh, we would never worship the devil. Would we? What
do you value most in your life? Your home? Your job? Your status? Your bank
account? A good test: What would you give up for Jesus? Ah. That’s a different
story. We’re all about Jesus until He asks us to sacrifice something we really,
really want.
“Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the
Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” – Matthew 4:10
Who do you serve? What do you worship? Satan will
continue to prowl this earth and seek to destroy God’s children until Jesus
returns and finishes him off forever. In the meantime, remain alert. Call upon
God’s Word. We are in a war that, thankfully, Jesus has already won.
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