True Word

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.’”
 
SATAN used God’s Word to tempt Jesus, the Word of God: Psalm 91:11-12 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Sometimes 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 this would be exalting the devil above Jesus. You see, the devil wanted Jesus to jump, so the Son of God would place the Devil’s temptation above his trust and faith in God’s Word. This is always his method to turn our eyes from God. Note Satan said, “If you are the Son of God.” as if to challenge Jesus’ identity. “Prove yourself, Jesus!” That was a constant cry from the Pharisees, who refused to believe in Jesus. But Jesus doesn’t need to prove who he is to anyone. He knew any testing of the LORD God is a sin, so he quickly rejected Satan’s temptation with the Word, “Do not put your LORD God to the test.” (Deuteronomy 6:16)
   Jesus also knew this Scripture is about God’s ministering angels who 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? There are numerous ways we can see God’s care for us. Many Christians testify of times they have seen and felt God’s extraordinary protection in times of need.
    We are often prone to test 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 submit to and 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?