Pondering Life : Pursuing God

The Temptation of Jesus
(Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13)

1Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,a 2where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.

3The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’

5Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6“I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. 7So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.”

8But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ “

9Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here. 10For it is written:

‘He will command His angels concerning You
to guard You carefully;
11and they will lift You up in their hands,
so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’d”
12But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ “

13When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

Luke 4:13

My Pondering

Do you see how Jesus used the Word of God as His sword to rebuke the devil?

That’s how we should fight. Not with our little might but with the awesome power of God’s Word with authority as we are empowered by the Spirit; dressed and ready for battle when it comes our way (see Ephesians 6).

When we can, we should flee if not properly equipped or not our time but sometimes we can run and not hide. Sometimes we must stand.

If we aren’t a threat because we are living a defeated life, walking in the same direction as Satan; always hiding in our luke warm houses and churches, distracted and ignorant of the spiritual battle we are in a world of vagueness and good for nothing.

Let’s take hold and fight the good fight under our Captain’s lead.