And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. (Luke 4:8-13)
Today's Morsel: Satan is the creator of temptation. We must learn how to recognize temptation, avoid temptation, endure temptation, and overcome temptation. Satan will use anything from food, music, media, pride, jealousy, envy, money, and sex to tempt us. No one is exempt. Not male or female. Not young or old. Not black or white, Spanish or European. Not the religious or even the non-religious. Satan doesn't care who you are, his goal is to cause you to give in to temptation. James lets us know that every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed (James 1:12-13). The biggest things being pushed by the media today is food and sexual innuendos to entice you, because these things appeal to the flesh for instant gratification. As my son in law pointed out in his Sunday school lesson a few weeks ago, "Why do you need a half dressed woman to advertise mustard?" It's all to draw you away through your own lust. We must recognize temptation for what it is and avoid it. Solomon admonishes us, "Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:10-18). We must obey the word of God and stay in the path of the just. John said, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12:9-11). They overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and their testimony. We must be living testimonies in the earth. If Satan tried to get Jesus to do wrong, knowing that He was the son of God, he's coming after you who are also sons of God (1 John 3:1-3). Don't think you are exempt, be alert and aware; your enemy walks about seeking whom he may devour. Don't be his next prey.
Sing: Are you washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are you garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Thought for Today: Satan is still afraid of the Blood of Jesus.
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