Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Carefully read Matthew 4:1-11, the story of the temptation of Jesus. Yesterday we saw Adam and Eve being tempted where the devil starts off “did God really say”. Today he goes for Jesus and says to him, “if you are the Son of God”. Again, he tries to play with his mind. He goes for his identity. Remember this is soon after the baptism of Jesus where God had visited in a spectacular way and affirmed Jesus as the Son of God that he loves. At one point the devil also quotes Scripture at Jesus. Jesus’s response, “It is also written” and actually every other time, “It is written”.

In Adam and Eve’s case, they were found shaky with the word of God and and their sure-footedness on it. In Jesus’s case, he is found secure in God and in his word. He uses the word as a shield around him that simply blocks any arrows the enemy fires at him. He knows exactly what God has said and he can smell lies and deception from a mile off.

Jesus has set the perfect example for us to follow. You know the areas where you are most vulnerable to being tempted and to giving in to sin. Perhaps it’s time you pulled out your Bible and found out what God says about that particular issue. Memorise Scripture and speak it back at the devil when he tries to bring you down.

For example you can say to yourself and to the devil, “It is written: ‘…among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.’” (Eph 5:3)

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