December 29-Anchored in Truth

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go away, Satan! For it is written . . ..’”

—Matthew 4:10

There are a couple of things we can learn from Jesus’s response to Satan’s temptation.

First, through his connection to the Father, he knew what was or wasn’t something he should do. To make your own food when you’re hungry (Matthew 4:3) doesn’t seem so bad on the surface, but Jesus knew it would be a misuse of his power according to the purpose God had for him. As we submit to, seek, and follow the Lord, the Holy Spirit will reveal this to us as well.

Second, Jesus knew his sure defense came from God’s Word. Satan’s deception doesn’t work if we know and believe what God has truly said in the Bible.

The devil comes at us with the same deceptions he brought to Eve in Eden—“Did God really say . . .?” Our enemy subtly adds to the command that was given (Genesis 3:1) then outright calls God a liar (Genesis 3:4). He tries to convince us God doesn’t really want good for us (Genesis 3:5).

But we can defend our hearts and minds with truth. All the crafty messages are defeated when we have the two–edged sword of the Word (Hebrews 4:12) stored up in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).

“It is written” is a tool we should all have at the ready. Whatever temptation is common in our lives, we can study the Word and find Scriptures that apply to it, then memorize them and have them ready when that temptation arrives.

And the more we study, meditate, and memorize the Word in general, the more the Holy Spirit will bring what God has said to mind even when unexpected temptations come our way.

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