January 4
Gen 8-10 | PS 4:1-8 | Prov 1:20-23 | Matt 4:12-25
At work I am very outspoken about my faith in Jesus Christ, to my partners, to my employees, and to my patients. I pray continuously that I will be a faithful representation of my Savior for all to see. A number of years ago in a fairly emotional confrontation, one of my partners and I got into a very heated discussion. Things were said on both sides which shouldn’t have been said. At the end, we both apologized, but one of my other partners looked at me and said, “You’re a Christian, right?”, and simply smirked. Though my behavior did not represent my Savior well at that moment, my other partner was being used as a pawn for the enemy. Once you have repented of your sins, and humbly have approached the cross and accepted Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation, you are saved, and yes, you are a Christian. It is predicated on what He did, not what we do. This is something we must all remember. Because Satan’s playbook never changes and he can use anyone to do his work. He enjoys questioning one’s identity in Christ, and when we fail, which we all do, he enjoys making you question whether you really were ever a believer in the first place.
Notice Satan’s statement to Jesus in Matthew 4:3, 5, “If you are the Son of God,…”. The same playbook, he actually questions Jesus’ identity, just as he questions ours. Satan then goes on to attack God’s provision, protection, and promise, just as he often does with us. Jesus passed the testing in the desert. He did not debate him. He didn’t defend Himself and His credentials. He simply and clearly used the perfect word of God to refute each of his attacks. Satan used the same formula against Eve in the garden in Genesis 3:1-5, and succeeded. He often succeeds against us, because we complicate our defense, rather than sticking to the simple truth of Scripture. This encounter is pivotal for us, as we read in Hebrews 2:17-18, “Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” Further, we read in Hebrews 4:15, “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”
A solid foundation rooted in the Word of God is essential for our walk. Along our walk we will be questioned as to our own identity. Will it shake us, or are we unshakable resting on the promises throughout Scripture? We will all do things that will embarrass us, will that make us question our own faith, or will we rest on Scripture, such as Ephesians 2:8-9, which reminds us it is about His grace, not our works? Bad things will happen: deaths of loved ones, fractures in families, illness, persecution, etc. Will that make us question God’s fairness, His goodness, etc., because even an elementary walk through His word easily refutes such comments against His character. Don’t miss the words in John 2:17,22, “ Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”… “After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.” Going through the entirety of God’s word annually is essential for our walk. We never know when the attacks will come and who they will be launched by, but a steady, daily diet in His Word will keep you prepared for these times.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: