What can we learn from the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4? Today I’m sharing how we can prove faithful when we are tempted to put our identity in other things and tempted to doubt the goodness of God. Plus one simple thing to do to resist temptation.
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Temptation of the Enemy
Satan says, “If you are the Son of God. . . .turn these stones into bread.”
If you are. . .
Then prove it.
Jesus didn’t take the bait. He resisted with holiness, confidence, and obedience.
Jesus knew he was the Son of God and didn’t have to deviate from the Lord’s plan to prove it.
Sometimes situations come up that tempt us to prove who we are apart from Christ. We have a big target on our backs or hearts, or wherever the flaming arrows of the enemy feel like striking, and when that heat comes, do we rest in who we are in Christ?
Satan wanted to diminish the trustworthiness of God. Always casting doubt. Always tempting us to not believe in what God has said, even going so far as to distort Scripture.
As Christians we need to respond to the Word of God with faith, but also to get to know the heart of Scripture which essentially means – to continually get to know the whole will of God throughout the whole Bible. The heart behind Scripture is never to glorify man or to be independent and autonomous from God, or to achieve the will of God apart from God.
Do Good
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:9, 21
we don’t just resist temptation or evil things, but we do good in it’s place. It’s not enough just to not sin. . . th primary way we resist evil is to do good things. Just like Jesus didn’t just justify us before God but also granted us his righteousness. And that’s what his temptation shows us – that not only did he not sin, but he was completely righteous in all he did. Look for the good things and do them. Having a cheerful heart instead of complaining; smiling at our children instead of criticizing; building up instead of tearing down; clinging to truth instead of fretting over unknowns.
Resources
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