Some time ago, a dear friend left the
church. This has bothered me for some time and I just can't stop
thinking about it. I just can't help but ask repeatedly- WHY? After a
bit of reflection upon seeing this picture I think I can make a good
guess as to the WHY?
Consider the passage listed in the picture and its context...
Matthew, Chapter 4 (World English Bible)
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you.’ and,
‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you.’ and,
‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
This passage says to me that:
a. Satan will tempt (test) you when you are most vulnerable. 1-2
b. Satan will attempt to cast doubt in your faith in God. 3
c. Your defense is trust in God and His provision for your necessities of life. 4
d. Satan will twist the Scriptures to change God's promises. 5-6
e. Keep the thoughts of Scripture in your mind: "again.." 7
f. That which exalts pride instead of your relationship with God is SIN, confront it! 8-10
g. If you remain grounded in your relationship with God and his word- Satan will lose! 11
When things that challenge your faith in God are before you, rely on God, remember HIS WORD and trust in HIM. Do not let anything get between you- anything!!! I probably will never know EXACTLY WHY my friend left, but my best guess is that there was a lack of being grounded in THE WORD OF GOD!!!
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