Trust God's Word.
Don’t trust your emotions.
Don't trust your opinions.
Don't even trust your friends.
In the wilderness heed only the voice of God.
Again, Jesus is our model. Remember how Satan teased him? "If you are the Son of God ... " (Luke 4:3, 9 NCV). Why would Satan say this? Because he knew what Christ had heard at the baptism. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased" (Matt. 3:17 NASB).
"Are you really God's Son?" Satan is asking. Then comes the dare – "Prove it!" Prove it by doing something:
"Tell this stone to become bread" (Luke 4:3 NASB).
"If You worship before me, it shall all be Yours" (v. 7 NASB).
"Throw Yourself down from here" (v. 9 NASB)
What subtle seduction! Satan doesn't denounce God; he simply raises doubts about God. Is his work enough? Earthly works – like bread changing or temple jumping – are given equal billing with heavenly works. He attempts to shift, ever so gradually, our source of confidence away from God's promise and toward our performance.
Jesus doesn't bite the bait. No heavenly sign is requested. He doesn't solicit a lightning bolt; he simply quotes the Bible. Three temptations. Three declarations.
"It is written ... " (v. 4 NASB).
"It is written ... " (v. 8 NASB).
"It is said ... " (v. 12 NASB).
Jesus' survival weapon of choice is Scripture. If the Bible was enough for his wilderness, shouldn't it be enough for ours? Don't miss the point here. Everything you and I need for desert survival is in the Book. We simply need to heed it.
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