Luke 3-4

October 28

Luke 3-4

After Jesus was baptized, He was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit where He was tempted by the devil for forty days. Just because we are walking in obedience to God, does not mean we will have smooth road to travel. Often, when we begin to travel on the right road, when we walk in obedience to God, the tempter will turn up his intensity. When this happens, we can know that we are not alone. Jesus faced the temptations of the devil for forty days and did not eat during that entire period. We are usually most vulnerable when we are hungry or tired. I imagine Jesus was both.

Though Jesus was tempted for forty days, He did not succumb to the devils smooth promises. He promised food for Jesus’ physical needs, he promised power, and he promised notoriety. Many people would grab for these promises, but Jesus knew His mission, He knew His Father in heaven. Jesus knew that the Father would provide all of His needs and the promises of the devil were empty and counterfeit. Each time the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus responded with the Word of God. In response to each of the temptations, Jesus said, “it is written.”

If we know the Word of God, we are less likely to fall to the lies of the devil. If we know the Word of God, we know the answer before the questions of the tempter come. God gives us His Word as a weapon in our spiritual warfare. Jesus showed us how to use it; we just need to follow His example. To do battle, we must know the Word, and remember that God will never leave us for forsake us, but is available when we face times of temptation. He will strengthen us for the battle.