Date: 09-20-2020

Title: Answering Temptation

(S) cripture:
    Luke 4:1-14 (NASB) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.'” 5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 “Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'” 9 And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU,’ 11 and, ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'” 12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'” 13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. 14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district.

(O) bservation:
    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. It is important to note that the devil left but only until an opportune time came.

(A) pplication:
    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. I must be prepared for those “opportune” times when the devil comes my way.

(P) rayer:
    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