In the wilderness temptation Satan offered Jesus 3 things. He also offers them to you:
- Satisfaction: Jesus was hungry and Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread. But this was satisfaction without God, because God's plan was to feed His Son supernaturally through angels. Jesus refused to settle for less - and so should you!
- Success: But it was success without God. Taking Jesus to the top of the temple, Satan said "Jump off, God will protect You and everyone will believe in You." Success without the cross. Take the easy way out! And has not Satan made you that same offer: 'You do not have to take up your cross. You do not have to practice self-denial." Satan lied then, and he is lying to you now.
- Significance: Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world and their glory if He did just bow down to him. What an offer. Significance without God! But Jesus rebuked him with a reminder from Scripture that God alone is worthy of being glorified.
Satan will take every legitimate desire you have and try to get you to fulfill it in an illegitimate way. But God "will provide the way of escape". You say "I do not see the way of escape." That is because you are focused on the temptation instead of the way out. God's promise of escape does not mean you will not have to persevere and be faithful to Him. And, as in the case of Christ, it involves knowing and being able to use the Scriptures. But it does not mean that when God's purpose of victory over temptation has been served, you will come out victorious.
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