Waist Deep 2018 - August 12

Matthew 4: 1–11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. . . Then the devil left him, and the angels came and attended him. (NIV)  (Please read the entire passage in your Bible before proceeding.)

Temptation is a tough business. It is managed by a real pro.*

This passage of scripture raises questions in my mind. If the Spirit led Jesus to be tempted, does he also lead us into the desert of temptation? How was it that Jesus was hungry after he fasted? How did the devil transport Jesus from one vantage point to another? But there is no question about how Jesus managed to resist temptation: He quoted scripture. In this case, the Old Testament provided a shield for every scenario presented by Satan.

Memorizing Bible verses is a forgotten discipline (no pun intended!). As a kid at camp, I learned Bible verses to earn points for my team – in the King James Version no less. Some might question the validity of the motivation but more than 40 years later I still remember a lot of those verses. If I don’t remember them word-for-word, I at least have a grasp of their meaning and a clue as to where to find them in the Bible. It comes in handy when trying to prove a point or offer words of comfort. Or, as Jesus demonstrated, to resist the temptation to sin.

Are you susceptible to a particular sin? Arm yourself with the Word. Find a few verses that speak directly to you about your weakness and how to overcome it. Memorizing used to be called, “learning by heart.” With the Word of God tattooed on your heart, you invoke the power of the Holy Spirit and equip yourself to resist the devil.

God never intended for us to sit helplessly and take Satan’s attacks.*