FIGHTING BACK

DAY 3:  Yesterday I heard loud and clear in the OT reading the warning God gave to Cain that sin was waiting for an opportunity to destroy.  The only defense was to respond correctly and subdue sin instead. He didn't and it lead to disaster.  There is a great deal of benefit in seeing people show what NOT to do; but in the New Testament reading for today of Matthew 3 & 4 what a joy to see a much better example of the right way.  Jesus was lead into the wilderness and there SIN was waiting to destroy Him.  It was SIN offered up by Satan himself.

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. 

Jesus showed me what it was like to respond correctly.  He subdued sin with the Word of God.  Satan wanted to destroy his mission, his character and his relationship and trust in God.

Temptation had a master.  It wasn’t just a benign feeling of wanting.  It was a lure maliciously cast and crouching and desiring not just to trip him up, but as God told Cain “to have Him.”  What a new perspective that casts on my own temptations.  Yet, Jesus was not the example Cain was of failure and forfeit.

Yesterday we saw the wrong way to react, (or in fact to have no offensive reaction to temptation at all). Today we see the right way to respond to temptation.

Vs 4: Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Jesus intentionally recalled what God said was true, listened, believed, and acted on that truth; and the result was that sin and Satan were subdued. Temptation requires proactive involvement or surrender will be the outcome. I can ask, as Jesus must have asked himself, “What does my Father have to say about this? What does He expect of me? What will bring His blessing into my Life? What response to this temptation will honor Him?”

I can follow the example of Cain or I can follow the example of Christ. The choice is mine, but I must remember that sin is crouching either way. It will have me or I will subdue it 

What made an impression on you today from your scripture reading?



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Day 3 of 365
Genesis 5
Genesis 6
Genesis 7
Matthew 3:7-17
Matthew 4:1-11
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 1:10-19

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