written!

Written!  It is written. Jesus prefaced His rebuttals to the devil with three simple words.  We don’t know the full extent of what happened during His forty-day duel in the desert.  What we do know is that He emerged victorious.  The evil one left Him until “a more opportune time.”  He returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit.  News about Him spread throughout the country side.

This power encounter with the prince of this world was a defining moment for Jesus.  If we take time to reflect on His fighting tactics, it can be a defining moment for us as well.  Jesus has given us some important tips about how to do battle with the enemy of our soul.

Take a minute to stop and consider Jesus’s responses to temptation (from Luke 4:4,8,12).

It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’

It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’

It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Here we have Jesus in fighting form.  God as a human.  Perfection.  Filled with power.  And yet He fought the devil, not with might, but with Scripture.  Plus,  He was armed with faith to believe what He spoke.  He didn’t pause to weigh out His options or consider His own desires.  “Do I want really want some bread?  Would I like personal glory?  Wonder if I could fly? Maybe this guy’s not so bad after all.”

Jesus resisted the devil without reasoning, wrangling, arguing, debating, or rebuking.  He drew from the teachings He must have known since childhood. No doubt He’d pondered the words many times.

Let’s remember that Jesus could have called down legions of angels. Instead,  He used the very same “sword of the Spirit” God has made available to each of us as we do battle with our tempter.

God’s Word. It’s worth the time to read it.  Study it.  Memorize it.  Meditate on it. Remember:  God’s Word will help you starve your fears and feed your faith.

Lord, You have given me the gift of Your Son to open the door to salvation.  Eternal life.  But the dailyness here on earth can be grinding as I wage war against the devil.  Remind me of the great power in Your Word.  If I will take the time to consume it each day and meditate on it to drive it deep into my heart, then I will armed and ready when temptation comes.  Lord, today, I commit to be ready. -Amen