Temptation To Triumph

The first temptation is recorded in the book of all beginnings, Genesis. Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation and sinned, eating the fruit forbidden by God. The Fall separated man from God. But God had a plan to restore man’s broken fellowship with Him. He sent His Son Jesus to earth to accomplish His purpose.

At the outset of Jesus’ public ministry, when He was physically weak from fasting for forty days, Satan tried to test Jesus in the wilderness. He tempted Jesus to use His power and authority to meet His own needs. He attacked Jesus’ identity and challenged Him to prove it through miraculous works. And then, Satan daringly offered to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if only Jesus worshipped him.

Satan’s strategy to tempt Jesus turned out to be hugely unsuccessful. Jesus triumphed over the devil by tactfully using the Scriptures. He was human and tempted in every way but He remained sinless. He endured the testing in the wilderness so that He could identify with us in our weakness.

Satan might be cunning and persuasive, but we can withstand his attacks, like Jesus did. We can follow Jesus’ example by arming ourselves with Scripture for battle. And we can be confident of the fact that Jesus is interceding for us and cheering us on. He equips us to fight when we are tempted. He enables us to make the right choices. We are never alone because we have the triumphant Son of Man on our side.

Respond

• Are you aware of areas in your life where you are most susceptible to temptation? How are you proactively preparing to fight the enemy’s attacks?
• How have your recent temptations strengthened your walk with Jesus?