Two-minute read.
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’”
Matthew 4:5
Snatch and force.
Unlike the first temptation, when God led Jesus into the wilderness, Satan “took him” to the holy city. The devil likes to do anything he can to take us away from God and His calling on our lives. The holy city refers to Jerusalem, the city dedicated to God, set apart from the law and separated from the world. Satan likes to appeal to the worst part of us, hoping he can con us into falling for his ploys.
Knowing Christ will respond with scripture, Satan beats him to the punch, quoting from Psalm 91:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,” and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 91:11-12
The devil knows scripture, probably better than we do. And he uses it against us, playing with our thoughts and actions. But we follow a Savior who knows all of Satan’s ploys and doesn’t fall for any of them. With eleven words, Christ defeats His enemy:
‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:7
One of my recent tests involved listening to the right voice. Walking to the first tee of the golf course, my leg swelled, and pain radiated up my leg. Silently praying, I asked the Lord for direction. The devil whispered in my ear, “Play golf,” but immediately, I knew that didn’t seem right. “Lord, is that You?” I asked. “Play golf,” again flew into my brain. But the Holy Spirit nudged me, and I heard the still small voice say, “Tell Ron.” I knew which voice to listen to and immediately told Ron how my leg felt. Shoving his club into his golf bag, he said, “Let’s go.” Taking me to the hospital and saving my life. If I had listened to the devil’s whispers, I would have died. Satan leads us on the path of destruction, but God leads us on the road to eternal life with Him.
Satan whispers in our ears, trying to snatch us and force us on the path to death. But God speaks from within our hearts, His Holy Spirit guiding and directing us. We must pay attention to the voices we hear. Asking the Lord for wisdom and discernment will help us decipher between the voices. We can avoid temptation and overcome trials by following the still, small voice from within that comes from God.
Journal Questions:
- How can I apply today’s devotion to my life?
- What voices have led you astray?
- How can you discern God’s voice in your life?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for leading us on the path of life. Forgive us for following the wrong voices, letting the devil lead us astray. Bless us with Your wisdom and discernment so that we can distinguish Your still, small voice. Help us live fully, following You on the path of righteousness, discovering the joy and peace that only You can give. In all things, we give You the glory. IJNIP. Amen
