Answer with God’s Word

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

─ Matthew 4:1-4 ESV

Answer with God’s Word

Watchman Nee said, “Every suggestion from the enemy must be met resolutely with the truth of the Bible. Answer doubts with the texts of faith; respond to despair with words of hope; reply to fear with words of peace. If he does not know the appropriate verse, let him pray for direction. Victory is obtained by wielding the Sword of the Spirit.”

The enemy of your soul will definitely take advantage of your human condition. He comes when you are tired, weak or even hungry. We need to be full of God’s Words to be ready to overcome any temptation.

Jesus’ example in our verses today demonstrate how we are to answer each temptation we face with Scripture. Imagine how hungry Jesus must have been after fasting 40 days in the wilderness. When the devil came and said, “If you’re God’s Son, it shouldn’t be a problem for you to turn these stones to bread,” Jesus responded with the commandment not to live by bread alone. Two more times the enemy tried to tempt Jesus, and two more times Jesus answered him with the truth of Scripture.

Jesus didn’t try to explain or reason with Satan. He spoke God’s Word in order to defeat His enemy. The only way to be ready to stand against temptation is to put the Word of God in your heart and remain full of it. It’s like keeping a weapon loaded and ready to fire at all times to defend yourself against a predator.

Today’s One Thing

Spend 15 minutes experiencing God through His Word today. It’s so much more than just reading a book. Start in John 1:1. Before you open the chapter, ask God to speak through His Word to you today and prepare you for the day ahead.
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