SOAP Devotional 2014-09-09
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
Part three of five with this text…
Scripture:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’ ” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. (Matthew 4:1-11 NLT)
Observation:
Second temptation: Tempted to test God. The devil was tempted Jesus to try to manipulate the Father to do his bidding for a whimsical purpose. The devil use subtle ways to tempt, “If you are the Son of God” do this. Both the devil and Jesus knew this to be true already, Jesus jumping off the highest point of the temple would have proved nothing and served absolutely no good purpose. Jesus responded again with scripture. The Israelites were constantly asking for God to prove himself to save them from themselves instead of just trusting God.
“You must not test the LORD your God as you did when you complained at Massah.” (Deuteronomy 6:16 NLT)
Application:
We need to just accept by faith that God is who he says he is and we are also who He says we are. We should not put ourselves in harms way, just to expect him to prove himself by protecting us. Yes, we may have desert experiences and we may go through hardships, but don’t put conditions on whether you will trust him or not. Just walk in faith.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for taking care of me even in my desert experiences. I trust you and will not doubt or put conditions that you must meet in order for me to walk according to your will. I believe and I trust you.
Thanks for the reminder to just take God at His word and trust Him