THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 4:1-11
“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)
Why did God put the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden?
Why did the Spirit of God lead Jesus to be tempted by the devil?
Why does God allow us to be tested, to be tempted by evil?
Apparently this testing is necessary for our identity and purpose.
Yes, God lets us be tempted, but not beyond what we can bear.
God gives us ALL the resources we need to refute and reject the devil’s lies.
Notice how Jesus does this with the words ‘it is written’.
He uses God’s revealed wisdom in scripture to expose the lie with the truth.
Jesus was not only led BY the Spirit, but He resisted WITH the Spirit.
But Jesus had to choose to fight, Jesus had to determine to resist.
The battles will not be easy, but every time we are attacked, we do have what we need to succeed.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
As Jesus followers, we will also experience wilderness times of testing.
But we have the Spirit, we have the scriptures, and we have God’s promise of a way out!
Our task – with His help – is to choose to fight, to resist, and to cling to God and His wisdom!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, open my eyes to see the times of testing, as well as the tools for resisting. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil!