JESUS SPEAKING

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was Hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4: 1 – 4)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

When Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness, He rebuked Satan by saying “It is written.” He then quoted an old testament scripture; a verse which exemplifies the power of God’s word. Following Christ’s example we are taught to examine the scriptures and use them as a tool to drive out confusion and discern what is right.

Concerning confusion, there is a frightening state of mind that pilots can experience while flying in low visibility. This condition is called spacial disorientation. When a heavy fog creates blindness during a flight, the absence of visual landmarks can cause a cascading spiral of fear and doubt. Many will experience instinctive feelings that seem right but are incorrect. Some pilots will feel as though the plane is flying downward; others will think it’s spinning; some will even express concern that the airplane is inverted. In any event, during spacial disorientation, when the pilots trust their instincts and attempt to correct course they often crash. So what are pilots trained to do when this situation occurs? Simply put, they are reminded to examine their gauges, which are almost always accurate. The airplanes attitude screen and the altimeter usually don’t lie. They are steady instruments that can be trusted when a pilot is disoriented.

Like pilots who must trust their instruments during disorientation, the word of God is a tool for Christians to discern what is right in any given situation. The Scriptures are God’s unbroken truth; and they can always reveal Satan’s lies and drive away any confusion. May we cling to God’s word in times of trouble and fear.

“Lord Heavenly Father, thank you for providing us with Your holy scriptures. They are a great light that directs us in times of darkness. As we face temptation, may we use Your words as a weapon against the lies of the enemy. Guard our hearts and minds. We praise You, we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s amen. Amen.” God bless all of you!