LiesSample

Defense

If faith is the defense against our enemy, how can we make the most of this shield? Simply having faith is no more strategic than owning a shield. It’s how you use it that matters. Let’s peak in on Jesus’ temptation to see how the Master wielded His.

When Satan came at Jesus with the temptation of turning the stones into bread, it’s interesting to note what Jesus did not do. He didn’t try to argue with Satan; He knew that Satan’s words were true and that He could turn those stones into bread if He chose to. He also didn’t reprimand Satan for bossing Him around. He didn’t play the “I’m the Son of God, and you can’t tell me what to do” card. Jesus wasn’t interested in digressing into arguments and power plays. Instead, He countered His enemy’s truth with another truth, reminding Satan that there is more to life than just physical satisfaction and that abruptly ended the conversation.

Was Jesus hungry for food? Yes, but He hungered for something even greater: doing the will of His Father. To Him, that was real life. The scripture He quoted to Satan was an anchor and a reminder of that fact that protected Him against the devil’s manipulation.

This is always Satan’s goal: manipulation. If he can’t manipulate us with a lie, he will try to manipulate us with a twisted version of the truth. But the word of God protects us against both. Even King David acknowledged the value of God’s word in keeping him on the right track. Without the word of God dwelling richly in us as the Bible commands, we lose our guardrails, our compass, and our way through the wilderness and temptations of life.

So the strategy of our shield could be summarized as knowing God’s word, being consciously aware of it, and believing it. In the desert, Jesus practiced all three of these and was able to withstand the devil’s schemes – even after 40 days of fasting. What schemes in our lives might we be able to withstand if we equipped ourselves like our Master?

Prayer

Father, thank you for giving me the shield of faith – a gift from you – to ward off enemy attacks. Let the power of my defense come from a strong awareness of and belief in your word. Help me take advantage of the protection I desperately need to navigate this world and avoid the devil’s schemes. And thank you for caring for me enough to show me what this looked like in the life of your own Son. In His name, Amen.