PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

READ: Matthew 4:1-11

ANSWER THIS: What activity do you enjoy so much that you constantly practice it to improve?

THE BREAKDOWN

Jesus has just had his inauguration day, and he’s about to launch his public ministry. But, there’s one thing he must do, first. He must face his enemy, the devil.

Let there be no doubt, the tempter (one translation for “the devil”) is single-minded in his plan. He needs to tempt Jesus to be disobedient to God, otherwise, his plans to defeat God, and enslave all mankind, will fail.

Growing up, Jesus spent a great deal of time studying the Hebrew Bible (what we call the Old Testament), knowing he would be challenged about his beliefs. So, now, he’s taking extraordinary measures to prepare for a face-to-face encounter with the devil. He’s going to fast for forty days.

Fasting (going without food for a period of time) was, and still is, considered a practice that helps us hear more clearly from God. And Jesus was going to need clarity to prepare for his encounter with the enemy, in order to deflect his lies. He’ll have to be on top of his game.

From a human perspective, heading into a conflict following a forty-day fast isn’t the wisest thing to do. But, Jesus knew success wouldn’t depend on physical strength. It would require spiritual endurance that comes from years of preparation.

The tempter tries every trick in the book. He tempts Jesus with physical nourishment. He tempts him to test God’s faithfulness. And, finally, he tempts him with wealth and power.

With these three simple words, Jesus deals a knock-out blow each time: “the Scriptures say . . .”

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

When athletes train for their sport, they spend countless hours practicing. They practice under various weather conditions. They practice with and against athletes of different skill levels. They practice when they don’t feel like practicing. They even practice in their mind, thinking through every possible play.

Why? Because when it comes time to compete for the prize, they’ve already rehearsed how they’ll respond to various situations. Performing at a superior level then becomes second nature when playing in a game that counts.

No matter what’s thrown at them, a well-practiced athlete is up to the challenge. If they didn’t practice, the end result would surely be defeat.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME?

Followers of Jesus, especially new ones, need to be grounded in the teachings of the Bible, so we can become better at explaining what we believe, and recognize when the devil is trying to deceive us. If we’re well-practiced like Jesus, when the truth is questioned or twisted, we’ll be able to confidently respond, “the Bible says . . .”

PRAYER

“Jesus, help me to understand your teachings and give me the desire to spend time with you daily. Prepare me to resist the devil when he tempts me, so I can defend what I know to be true, and respond with confidence, ‘the Scriptures say . . .’”