Have you ever been in a situation where you felt vulnerable and close to compromising your integrity? Have you ever caught yourself in a moment where you felt susceptible to temptation? You may recognize that it’s rarely when we’re on the top of a mountain that we face these temptations. Instead, temptation seems to knock loudest when we’re in the valley.
In Matthew 4, we see Jesus come across this same situation. The example He shows in combating temptation, however, shines a light on how we are to react when we find ourselves in instances of vulnerability.
Jesus has just fasted, going without food or water in the wilderness for 40 days when Satan shows up to tempt him. Notice Satan didn’t show up at the beginning of Jesus’s fast. He didn’t even show up halfway through Jesus’s fast. He showed up at the very end, when Jesus was most susceptible to temptation. Satan begins to offer Jesus all the things He seems to need. Jesus resists, however, and combats Satan’s lies with the truth. Jesus fights off Satan’s weapons of deceit with the Word of God.
Satan will always show up when we are at our weakest, but remember that when we are weak, He, Jesus, is strong in us. Satan will always offer you something that you already have in Jesus. Combat his lies with the truth. Fight off his weapons with the Word. The truth always trumps temptation.
Reflect:
- When do you feel most vulnerable to the enemy’s lies and temptation?
- What lies of Satan are you believing?
- What areas of your life do you need to apply the truth of God’s Word in order to set you free?
This blog was originally written by Newspring Church and appeared on their website. For more about Newspring Church, visit newspring.cc.