The devil and his temptations are real. His lies are powerful. Many believe they are strong enough to resist him. Yet, Christ says, “Without Me, ye can do nothing.” Peter boldly proclaimed that he would never deny Christ. Yet, that very night, he denied knowing Him three times and then wept bitterly over it.
The devil isn’t playing games when he tempts us. He wants to destroy us. He’s an expert at making sin seem so right at the time, but then he becomes our accuser. He lies, saying, “Heaven cannot possibly be meant for you. Look at what you’ve done.” The word “devil” means “the accuser”. Adam and Eve hid from God after falling into sin. They were afraid. Satan was successful by removing our trust in God.
The good news is that we have someone who is much stronger than Satan. We have a Savior who carries us through. Jesus did not subject Himself to the devil’s temptation in the wilderness for His own amuzement, or just so he could see what the outcome would be. He did it all for us. As true God and Man in one Person, He stepped into our shoes, and He resisted all temptation for us. Through faith in Him He credits His perfect life to our account and we are saved. With the help of Christ, we too can resist, and the devil does flee from us. “I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me.” It’s never easy and we don’t always succeed like Christ, but knowing that He is our perfect substitute, He carries us through. He enables us to serve God and resist temptation daily.
- Pastor Wyatt Rosebrock