Today’s Reading, Luke 4-5
Focal Scripture: Luke 4:13 “After the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.”
Temptations are a part of life. Temptations should also be expected. One thing is true for all people when it comes to temptation is that hit us in weak spot. What is a temptation for me, probably is not a temptation for you in your life. A temptation can be defined as something that that gets our attention or even our affection. It is something that pulls us towards a certain direction and it can often be a positive thing in our life.
In today’s reading we see the temptation of Jesus by Satan himself. In this event Satan tempts Jesus by offering him power, kingdoms, and even questioning his deity. These temptations are being done to the human side of Jesus. Remember he is 100% God and 100% man. In these most vulnerable moments in the flesh Jesus shows us what defeats the enemy. It is not tricks or gimmicks. It is done by applying the word of God appropriately and accurately.
What we need to understand is that temptations will come in our lives. If you are an unbeliever you will be tempted to make yourself like God. Your desire to be in control and belief that you can do anything by yourself will be your biggest struggle. Your flesh will tell you that you’re good enough and that you don’t need a savior. Your temptation will be self sufficiency. Don’t get to complacent because you can and will be tempted in a variety of ways to keep your focus off of God and on yourself.
If you are a believer your temptation will come to make you weak and get your focus off of God. Often by things that are positive. You can be tempted to make ministry a priority and neglect your family. Your pursuit of finances and living the dream of finical freedom. It can even be making your children the top priority and neglecting your personal walk with the Lord. However, it’s not always a distraction from our relationship with God that tempts us. It can also be temptations that seek to destroy us and our reputations as believers.
What I desire for you to see today is that we will all be tempted. It will look different for all of us who are alive. Some similarities will happen between believers and unbelievers but the core truth remains the same for both groups. The enemy wants to tempt unbelievers from seeing their need for a Savior. Then he wants to tempt the believer into being useless or ruining their testimony.
We must always be on guard against the enemy. Notice in this verse that the enemy left Jesus for a time. Which implies he came back again. The same is true for us as well. We will go through seasons of temptation stronger than others but he will never just leave us alone permanently.
Be on guard and protect your life and your heart. Our enemy is out to destroy believers and distract seekers.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Luke 6-7
