Answering Temptation
(S) Scripture
Luke 4:1-14 (NIV)
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,
2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.
10 For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
(O) Observation
When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus answered him with scripture. Even when Satan misused scripture Jesus still answered with Scripture. Jesus was tempted in three key areas: Food, Health, and Life Mission. In each temptation Jesus responded with scripture and then he returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.
(A) Application
Too often I try to face temptation in my power or on my terms and that is when I fail. If Jesus used scripture then just maybe I should too. That means I need to be familiar with scripture and know it well enough to recognize when the devil is misusing it. That is why this Life Journal is so important because each day I am reading God's Word and asking, "How will I be different because of what I have just read?" This is also a good reminder to memorize scripture.
(P) Prayer
Lord, help me develop the discipline and habit of a daily devotion. Help me to know Your Word and to recognize when it is being misused in order to lead me astray. I want to follow only You. Amen
1 comment:
It's interesting to note, isn't it, that the temptation follows the baptism of Jesus. At his baptism, the voice says, "YOU are my beloved son in whom I am pleased." Do you think that a key part of Jesus' overcoming temptation was his ability to recall this incredible word of affirmation from God? Jesus never forgot who he was in God's eyes. Shouldn't this also help us defeat temptation, if we will not forget who we are in God's eyes?
Your old bud
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