In Matthew 4, we find the familiar narrative of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. The tempter, Satan, came to Jesus with three different temptations:
- The first temptation was to test whether Jesus would meet His own needs.
- The second temptation tested whether Jesus believed in the protection of God.
- The third temptation tested whether Jesus would seek to gain His Kingdom by means other than God’s will.
With each temptation, Jesus replied with the Word of God, quoting Scripture to resist the enemy and overcome the temptation.
The enemy will always tempt us with something that is inherently good, for he will never be successful unless it is somewhat believable. He always distorts with just enough truth, or good, to get us hooked.
This Lent season, I am using NT Wright’s, Lent for Everyone, Matthew Devotional.
NT Wright reminds us that while Jesus was tempted just as we are, He also knew how to resist temptation, thus showing us the means by which we can as well.
“(Notice how His mind, well stocked with Scripture, comes back again and again with the right response.)
(from the reading, The Saturday After Ash Wednesday)
I think NT worded it in a ways that we will find ourselves asking a question of ourselves:
Are our minds well stocked with Scripture so that we can come back again and again with the right response when facing temptation?
It was those words, “well stocked”, which came into focus.
We so want the supermarket shelves to be well stocked when we are to grocery shop. We want them to be filled with the necessary and desired items. We hope for a full and sufficient supply so they don’t run out before we get there.
We can have Scripture memorized, and in our memory banks. But it is more than an intellectual exercise of memory. It must become truth applied to our hearts so that we are able to draw from that deep well within us.
“The Bible in the memory is better than the Bible in the book case.”
(Charles Spurgeon)P
“Your word have I treasured in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
(Psalm 119:11, NASB)
It is not enough to simply recognize the voice of the enemy.
We must have the correct weaponry to fight him off.
Our hearts and minds must be well stocked with Scripture.
We often hear we are to pray Psalm 91 for protection over ourselves and families. In her post, Psalm 91: Prayer Points for Your Family and Friends, Stacey Pardoe reminds us of the power we find in praying through this psalm. But more so, she reminded me to give thanks that we can pray each part of this psalm. We have a God who desires to be our shelter and protection.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
