The major lesson learned from Jesus’ encounter with the devil was my need to have a store of scripture at readiness to counter temptations as our Messiah had to repudiate the three temptations by Satan.
Luke 4:2, “Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.”
First temptation, Luke 4:3,"And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread." Here the devil was appealing to the flesh, to Jesus' physical well-being.
Luke 4:4, "And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." The Word is far more fulfilling than bread, it fills that inborn need for God.
Second temptation, Luke 4:5-7, the devil petitions Jesus with power and glory if Jesus “therefore wilt worship me.” This is a valid temptation as the devil holds the title deed to our fallen world.
Luke 4:8, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." God, not the devil, is to be worshiped.
Third temptation, Luke 4:9-11, here the devil is trying to get Jesus to manipulate God, to put God "to the test" by saving Him (Jesus) from a deadly fall.
Luke 4:12, “And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Several years ago while in Spiritual Disciplines SD501, we were asked “Why is it important to ‘make deposits’? What biblical passages have served you well over the past few months?” Since that time, I have maintained a file on my computer desktop of often quoted verses including the words Sola Scriptura. These deposits of verses are a great help to me and I often draw against this account.
Years ago, there was a special on TV dealing with the POW in Vietnam and their sharing of remembered Scripture. The POWs would pass verses around printed on whatever came to hand. Their savings account of scripture helped them through horrific years in Hanoi Hilton.
It is not just in debate when my savings account of scripture is literally a “God send,” I often need that little quiet voice of remembrance.
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