Dressed for Success
Today’s Through the Bible Reading: Mark 1:9-20; Matthew 3:13-4:11; Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:1-13; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:29-51
Every day brings opportunities, challenges, and decisions. It's been said, “life isn’t a playground, but a battlefield.” Although, as Christians, we are filled with joy overflowing (Jn 7:38), there is no doubt about it – we are in a spiritual battle (1 Pt 5:8). Ephesians 6 makes this explicitly clear. Each situation we come up against is a spiritual battle and we can head out each day adequately dressed for the day, or ill-equipped and vulnerable to injury. (Check out the study Dressed for Success).
However, we are the most blessed - because there is NO need under the sun that we cannot find in the SON. Jesus is our High Priest, our brother who experienced life the same as we do (Heb 4:15). In today’s reading Jesus faced a spiritual battle and gives us an example how to successfully defeat it.
Satan tempted Jesus by misusing, misquoting, and questioning God’s Word. That was his tactic in the beginning when he tempted Eve, and it was his tactic here. Jesus responded with God’s Word, which is the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12). Jesus knew the Scriptures and responded to temptation with Scripture. Herein lies the importance of reading and knowing God’s Word! Without knowing it, studying it, memorizing it – we’ll find yourselves confused and not able to recognize truth from manipulated references taken out of context.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Jesus fought Satan through the power of God’s Word and resisted him. God promises us in James 4:7 that if we resist the devil, he will flee.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
So let's take in this daily bread, putting on the whole amour of God (Eph 6:10).