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Tempted by the Devil - Luke 4
Tempted by the Devil - Luke 4
The audacity! The Son of God? Did the devil not know who he was dealing with? Of course he knew. Read again of all the events and heavenly activity connected with the birth and early life of Jesus. The heavenly announcements, the birth of John and Jesus, the star and the wisemen, the glory in the field with the shepherds, the speaking of the Father at the baptism of Jesus. Yes, the devil knew.
Yet he tested Jesus.
What makes me think that I would be immune from such? Perhaps because, compared to Jesus, I am of little note in the history of humanity. YET, here I am, tempted. Great and small, each of us are the targets of such temptation. The goal is simply to turn our hearts away from God.
As Peter was coming to the end of his life, he wrote: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9).
You have been, you are, and you will be tempted and tried. How firm is your faith in Jesus?
Hugh DeLong
