Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” – John 4:1-3

Have you ever noticed that the toughest tests are brought to us when we are at our weakest? Maybe you’re incredibly lonely, and that’s when you’re presented with exactly the wrong friendship or relationship, or you’re suffering financially when that “get rich quick” scheme comes at you. It’s because the devil literally watches you.

He’s waiting for us to let down our guard, you see, and he has quite a sense of irony. He’ll lead you back to the very vice that you’ve conquered (addicts, am I right?) or he’ll hammer you again and again with the same insecurity, or he’ll put something in front of you that you’ve always wanted, and all it would take is a little bit of compromise for you to have it.
But there’s no such thing as a little bit of compromise when you’re dealing with the devil. You can’t let him get that foothold. You can’t give in to even the smallest, most seemingly harmless trick of his because that has opened the door and he will soon be running your house.

Notice, too, that he will come at you with those double dog dares from third grade. “If you’re really Jesus, throw yourself off this temple because allegedly God will send His angels to save you,” he told Jesus. Basically he was saying, “I dare you to prove it.”

Beware of your pride, my friend. It will bring you down. That’s why humility is such an important characteristic for God’s people. Remember how Jesus stood silent before Pilate, so stand silent before the mocking accusations of Satan. They’re solely engineered to pull you off the top of the temple and dash you on the rocks.

Just because the devil says it to you, that doesn’t make it true. Remember Who the truth is, and seek Him with your whole heart. ❤️