3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’[a]”
Luke 4 v 3 & 4 (NIV)
None of us are exempt from temptation. The enemy is out to get us each and every day, wanting us to stumble over doubt, willing us to wander from the path of righteous living, coaxing us to give up hope and give in to despair.
Some days being a Christian can feel like walking a tightrope, trying not to fall off. Pressures and temptations threaten our balance. Advertisers try to convince us to spend what we do not have. Our peers at school or university cajole us into choices that undermine God’s holy standards. Long term unemployment tempts us to doubt God’s hand of provision.
While Jesus was in the desert he faced the harsh reality of temptation. As his stomach rumbled with hunger, the devil tempted him to make bread. How he must have longed to taste a warm baked loaf of bread, to feel the comfort of that nourishment in his body.
How does Jesus combat the enemy? With the bread of life. Each time Satan comes to Jesus holding out a new offer, the temptation is rebuffed with Scripture.
The word of God is powerful. As 2 Timothy 3: 16 & 17 reminds us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” It is also the only offensive piece of equipment in the Armour of God, outlined in Ephesians 6.
Many of us have learned Scripture in Sunday School and can quote it along with the pastor in the sermon each week. Do we also use it as a weapon to rebuke the enemy when he comes to tempt us? Do we use it to encourage a friend when they are tempted to despair? In a moment of weakness do we use it as a reminder to ourselves about how God wants us to live?
In this time of Lent let us follow the example of Jesus and use the scripture we have learned to aid us in our battles. Let us equip ourselves, as people of God, for every good work.
