"It Is Written..."

(Read Matthew 4:1-11)

It's interesting that when Jesus was in the wilderness being tested by the devil for 40 days and 40 nights---He used only three words before everything He said to the devil.  He didn't say anything other than what He heard His Father say too. 

Those three little words are also powerful.  "It is written..."  Think about it for a moment.  "It is written..." 

Every instance where Jesus was tempted by the devil---"It is written..." 

When the devil first tempted Jesus in the wilderness, it was concerning His power and authority.  He knew where it came from---from His Father's spoken words. 

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’  (Matthew 4:4, NIV)  It points to Jesus knowing only to speak what His Father spoke---nothing more, nothing less. 

The next temptation from the devil was regarding Jesus' identity.  “If you are the Son of God,” he [tempter] said, “throw yourself down...”  (Matthew 4:6a, NIV)

Jesus knew His identity, but He also knew not to test His Father.  Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”  (Matthew 4:7, NIV) 

The last temptation in the wilderness was concerning worldly power and wealth.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”  (Matthew 4:9, NIV) 

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ”  (Matthew 4:10, NIV)  

Only after Jesus had used His Father's words after every temptation from the devil was He able to overcome each temptation.  He had to be rooted and grounded not only in His identity but also in His relationship with His Father and in His Father's word.  He knew who He was.  He knew whose He was.  He knew God's word. 

It's a great lesson for all of us believers to be steadfastly committed to learning and growing in God's word and in our own personal relationships with God / Jesus.  We need to not only know our identity in Jesus Christ but to know God's word in order to overcome all of the temptations, tests, and trials that the devil tries to use against us in our lives.  Only then will we be the true Godly people He has created and called us to be for His purpose and plan.  (Jeremiah 29:11) 



Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.