Daily Devotionals

Bride and Gloom Week 2: Saturday

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry. Luke 4:1-2

In our study of Genesis 3 this week, we have seen that Adam and Eve did not influence each other well when facing temptation from the enemy. They gave in to temptation rather than encouraging each other to obey God. They let themselves become easily influenced rather than staying rooted in God and His instructions.

Scripture reveals another time that Satan tempted someone in Luke 4. This time, it was Jesus Himself being tempted. While Adam and Eve gave into temptation, Jesus refused. When Jesus was tempted, He was in the hot wilderness of Judea, where He had fasted for 40 days and nights. During this time, Satan came to Jesus with three specific temptations recorded in Luke 4. Each time Jesus answered, beginning with the phrase, “The Scriptures say….” Every time Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus fought back with what the Scripture said regarding each temptation Satan threw at Him. He literally fought back temptation with Scripture. He set His mind and His heart on God’s word, and this focus allowed Him to say “no” to temptation.

Jesus set an example for us in Luke 4. We can follow His example and fight temptation with Scripture. This, my friends, is how we remain unscathed by the influence of others. When we know Scripture so well that we have it memorized, we can recognize what Scripture teaches about sin and say “no” when temptation comes. May you and I follow this example of Jesus and follow Scripture and what it says instead of the temptations thrown at us.

Moving toward action

Choose today to set your mind on God and His word. Go on the Sagebrush App and look through the monthly memory verses. Choose one of these verses that stands out to you to memorize. As you memorize God’s word, you will stand firm against temptation.

Going Deeper

Luke 4:1-13 (NLT)

"Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.

3 Then the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread."

4 But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone.'"

5 Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 "I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them," the devil said, "because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me."

8 Jesus replied, "The Scriptures say,

'You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only him.'"

9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say,

'He will order his angels to protect and guard you.
11 And they will hold you up with their hands
so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'"

12 Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the Lord your God.'"

13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came."