DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: NOVEMBER 21 LESSONS FROM JESUS TEMPTATION (3) SCRIPTURE: EPHESIANS 5: 1 – 2
As mentioned from the beginning of this devotional, all lessons learned from Jesus’ temptation are numerous to be put together in a space such as devotional. Today’s devotional concludes this series. Lesson to note first here is to knowing the schemes of Satan. As Christians, it is important to be wise to the schemes of Satan. One of his schemes is hitting us at the opportune moment. He came to Jesus with the first test of turning stones to bread for food when Jesus was very hungry. This is the opportune moment talked about. To cause us to commit adultery or fornication, he comes with the suggestion when one is alone with an opposite sex. To cause one to commit murder, he comes in when one is in a high rage of anger and where dangerous instrument to be used is available.
Christians must know that Satan subtly mixes truth with falsehood when coming to tempt us. In a very cunning way, Satan presents error to us that look like truth. He presented the world to Jesus as the owner, therefore, would give everything in the world to Jesus if only Jesus could worship him. Even though the Bible says Satan rules over the world, but his authority is temporal and limited (John 12: 31). Jesus knew this when He replied Satan that only the Lord God should be worshipped (Luke 4: 8; Duet, 6: 13). Jesus knew that God alone sets up Kings and grants authority to whomever He wills (Dan. 4: 17, 25). Again, we must know that Satan usually promises us pleasure from what he wants to do but will never mention the pains that usually accompany the pleasure. Satan promised Jesus the pleasure of enjoying having dominion over all the kingdoms of the earth by worshipping him. But Jesus knew the pains of separating Himself from God if He worshipped Satan. Can we as Christians or Christian Leaders refuse the pleasures of our world to serve God faithfully in this present world where everyone is pursuing pleasures?
Final thing to mention on the lessons from Jesus’ temptation is the advantage of arming oneself with the Scripture. Jesus replied Satan scripture to scripture. Satan told Jesus that as a Son of God, He should turn the stone to bread and eats using (Psa. 2: 7). Jesus replied him by saying “It is written, a man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deut. 8: 3). Satan knew where it is written that the angels of God can hold up Jesus from falling down when he told Jesus Christ to jump down from the pinnacle of the temple in the big city which is Psalm 91: 12 as he quoted in Luke 4: 9-13. Jesus quoted Deut. 6: 16 where it was written “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” As Christians, we must avail ourselves of reading and studying the Bible to know the correct things the Word says, if not, we will assume that some of the quotations from Satan or human beings about the Bible are truth. *With the good understanding of the Scriptures, we will effectively escape temptations. Our lead text says we are to be imitators of Christ. This will be best done by being who Christ was while on the earth.
PRAYER:
LORD JESUS, grant me grace to know the Words of God deeply and truthfully so that nobody misleads me with satanic words sounding very truthfully.
CONTACT US? You can contact us for prayer requests or discussion through ubasimon341@gmail.com
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch