Experiencing Jesus e~Devotional | 5/21

PASSAGE: Matthew 4 [5] Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. [6] “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ” ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” [7] Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

INSIGHT: How is Satan tempting Jesus in this second situation? In the first temptation, Jesus quoted Scripture back to Satan about trusting God above all else. So Satan uses that against Jesus in this second temptation by trying to get him to trust God – and jump from the temple. Satan is trying to use Jesus’ faith in his heavenly Father against him. Satan: “Jesus, you’re so strong in your faith, then trust God and jump!”

In our own life with God when we feel strong that’s the time when we need to be careful. We can become proud and even begin to rely on our abilities. It’s a subtle thing that happens. We’re vulnerable to spiritual attack if we begin to become self-reliant. Remember what Jesus said in John 5:19 – “I do nothing on my own …”

Jesus again quotes Scripture back to Satan. Satan wants Jesus to make a decision independent of God to jump from the temple and then trust God to save him. The Scripture that Jesus quotes – “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” – means that we shouldn’t use God by making decisions without asking him – and then expect him to save us or help us when things go wrong.

PRAYER FOCUS: Ask God to help you identify any areas in your life where you are self-reliant. Then confess that to him and ask him to help you trust him in those areas.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE TODAY: Self-reliance is the great enemy of God. Ask God for his strength to help you live a life that’s dependent on him – in every area of your life.