August 10 True Bible

Luke 4:9-12 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
 
SOME times when I read this I quietly urge Jesus to jump, so the angels do catch him. What a put-down to the devil that would be! But then I realize what a self-focused sin that type of thinking is. You see, the devil wanted to influence God’s will. For Jesus to jump would have been a submission to the devil and a put-down to the Lord God.
    The language of Psalm 91:11, which Satan quotes here, is not intended to teach that the angels will always protect everyone from this kind of impulsive action Satan spoke to Jesus. We all know disease, accidents and persecution harm God’s people. God’s ministering angels do attend to God’s own. We read it this way in Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? But remember the angels are under the Triune God’s authority only to do his will.
    There are numerous ways we can see God’s care for us. Many Christians testify – and I’m sure you can, too – of times you have seen and felt God’s extraordinary protection in times of need. But putting this Scripture to the test by doing something reckless or foolish is saying to God, “Come now and rescue me from my impulses. Save me from myself.” This is a gross, unwarranted sin against God’s providential care.
    Of course Jesus, the Living Word, knew the meaning of the Scripture. He understood the power of the Father to protect him. He didn’t need to jump from a great height in order to prove God’s promises to Satan – or to himself. His faith was fully on God to do the will of God in the power of God in the time that God decreed.
    Jesus also knew something else. The Father’s ministering angels were prepared to care for him when he called to them. Matthew records this at the end of Jesus’ ordeal: Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Jesus also knew the angels were at his disposal that dark night he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:53 “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Jesus had a perfect relationship with the Father. He put the will of the Father above all things. Surely there was no need to put his Father’s love to the test.  
     We are often prone to testing God aren’t we? The test can occur when we pray with great desire and expectation for the prayer to be answered. Doesn’t it make sense for God to quickly heal my friend’s disease, to feed the thousands of people starving today or to fill his churches with true worshipers each Sunday? Praying for such good things, we surely expect God to immediately say, “Yes. Right now.” But what do we think when he doesn’t respond? What if he doesn’t minister to these people in need? Do you doubt his love? Do you lose faith in his mercy? Do you stop praying? Did God fail your test? Or do you trust him to pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) You’ve prayed that prayer, haven’t you? Do you trust God’s will as Jesus did?
 
Prayer: Father, thank you for the countless times your ministering angels have attended to my needs. I submit to your will to be done on earth to glorify your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.