Mark 1:12-13 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
While Matthew has made us familiar with three specific temptations that Jesus endured, according to both Mark and Luke, Jesus was tempted the whole time He was in the wilderness.
Luke 4:2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
For forty days, what would Satan have been tempting Jesus with? Well, I think we can go back to Genesis 3 for an idea:
Genesis 3:1c “Did God really say …”
Perhaps you’ve had the same question planted in your mind? Satan loves to plant seeds of doubt because if we allow doubt to take root, it will eventually become a wedge in our relationship with God. Be careful of what you allow into your heart. Seeds of doubt can come from many places … when growing up, many times it comes from the friends or relationships that we have. When we are in college, it can come through our professors or our course books. When at home, it can come through the television, books or music. Maybe you can think of other places doubt might come from?
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
If something is creating doubt, drastic steps are called for … quit watching it, reading it, listening to it, entertaining it … before the doubt takes root. I’ve seen small doubts grow into icebergs large enough to sink titanic Christians.
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