Grounded in Truth

An amazing thing happens when you keep God in the right perspective—you begin to see everything else in the light of God’s sovereignty and power. This morning as I read Matthew 3-4, Satan’s impotence jumped out at me.

Matthew chapter 4 tells us that Jesus has been in the desert fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. What might be the state of his physical, mental, and emotional well-being? Enter Satan, stage left, to tempt Jesus.

Satan knows who Christ is; he once worshipped him. “What?” you say. “When did Satan ever worship Christ?” Satan is a created being, an angel of God who became filled with pride because of his beauty and subsequently was cast out of heaven to earth (see Ezekiel 28:11-19, Revelation 12:7-10). Satan is also the father of lies (see John 8:44). He uses this tactic against Christ by attempting to make Christ doubt who he is (dearly loved son of God). “If you are the son of God…” Satan says and continues the attack at what he believes is Christ’s weakest point, his hunger. “Command these stones to become bread.” Jesus rebukes Satan with Scripture, “It is written…”

Three times Satan tempts Christ, and three times Christ rebukes him with the truth of God’s word.

Satan is neither omniscient (all knowing) nor omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time). Only God is. That means Satan does not know our every thought and action every moment of the day. He can attempt to deceive us and make us question our position in Christ. He can be successful if we are not grounded in the truth of God’s word. Study and know the Bible, then use the same strategy as Christ, “It is written.”

Debra L. Butterfield © 2010