Matthew 4:1

Verse of the Day Devotion: Matthew 4:1

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” – Matthew 4:1

After His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil.  This is looked at as the first act of His ministry, a battle so to speak with Satan.  This was not something He did of His own accord but was led there by the Spirit for a purpose.  I believe that purpose was to show that He could be tempted and not fall as man has, and thus reveal who He actually is, the one who could and would pay the penalty for our sins.  Note a similar situation of temptation.  “The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.” Genesis 3:4-7.  They also were tempted by Satan, however, they listened to him rather than God.  They believed the words of the serpent and followed what he said.

Jesus, on the other hand, did not fall into Satan’s trap.  The first temptation was “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Matthew 4:2-3.  Here, Satan told Jesus how to address His hunger.  But Jesus quoted Deuteronomy to answer him.  “He humbled you and let you be hungry and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.”  Deuteronomy 8:3. In other words, what proceeds from God is what man lives by, not simply bread.

Then Satan brings Him to the pinnacle of the temple for the second temptation.  “and said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.”  Matthew 4:6. This is a quote from the Psalms. “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.”  Psalm 91:11.   Satan attempted to use scripture himself, however, “Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.” This is a quote from Deuteronomy which says, “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.” Deuteronomy 6:16. Notice the words of Jesus “On the other hand, it is written…”

Then lastly, the third temptation, which he did from the top of a very high mountain.  “And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:9. And of course, He again quoted scripture with this.  “Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY ” Matthew 4:10.  And this is a quotation from Deuteronomy again.  “You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you,” Deuteronomy 6:13-14.

This is why we need to study the scriptures and get to know what God said.  Jesus used scripture to answer all the temptations placed on Him by Satan, and this is a good way for us to fight temptation.  Knowing what God says is good and what He says is sin will give us the weapons we need to resist him and get him to flee from us.  We need to take advantage of this so we will be able to say “NO!” to Satan when he tries to defeat us.  Remember the words of James when he wrote, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. And the way to submit to Him is to follow His word completely.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

James 1:13

Verse of the Day Devotion: James 1:13

“Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” – James 1:13

Trials come and trials go.  It seems we all go through trials occasionally, some more than others.  Sometimes we consider trials as times when things do not go the way we want them to.  However, we should always remember two important verses and take them to heart.  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. Difficult times are often ways God can bring about a good that is best received in difficult situations.  One example is helping us learn to trust Him.  The second reason is so we can comfort others.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.  There are times when we go through trials so that we can be comforted by Him and thus be able to comfort others in the same way.  In both of these, we can be thankful to God for these trials because He will bring a good out of it for us, and possibly bring a good out of it for another because we will then be able to comfort them in the same way were comforted.

But one thing we should never do is believe we are being tempted by God in this trial.  Now, we may never say we are tempted by God but our response to it can come across that way.  Let’s use for example the trial of losing our job.  This is not an easy thing to go through, especially if you really loved what you were doing.  Many friends you made there that you may never interact with anymore.  A good salary which was more than required to make it month to month is now gone.  First of all, God does not tempt us to do evil, just as He cannot be tempted to do evil.  We may get angry and say things we never should say to anyone.  We may harbor hate in our hearts for those who caused, or we assume caused this setback to happen.  He probably allowed this to occur for a good we, at this time, cannot see.  However, it is imperative that we trust God that He knows everything, and He means only good to come from it.

If we do not trust Him, then we may get carried away with our anger or hurt that we will tempt ourselves to sin.  “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” James 1:14. We may hold anger against people, which is wrong in and of itself, however, if we make assumptions about others which are false and are angry at others for essentially nothing, then we are sinning.  We cannot say God caused these bad things to happen for any other purpose but to bring a good about.  To think or say. “I am angry God because of what you did” is totally wrong.  We are angry because we do not trust our good and loving God.  Everything He does or allows is for good.  We must see things this way.  And if we do, then we can say instead ‘God, I trust you and look forward to what you have in store for me.’  No accusations, no temptation, no sin. And an added benefit, contentment that brings peace.  Glory to God.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Galatians 6:1

Verse of the Day Devotion:  Galatians 6:1

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” – Galatians 6:1

Paul is laying out here how to address fellow brothers and sisters in Christ when they fall into sin.  Now this could be by surprise or ignorance, not realizing they were sinning, or out of the stress of temptation where they gave in to a sinful action.  Paul lays out how, as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to respond to those who find themselves in this predicament. 

He starts out by stating “we who are spiritual”. What is meant here are those who have not given in to these temptations but continued to live as they ought.  Theologian Joseph Benson says it like this.  “Who have received the Spirit of truth, grace, and wisdom, and who continue to live and walk by and in the Spirit.”  This is our responsibility while here on earth.  The more truly spiritual we are, the more we are to help our brothers and sisters in Christ to grow more in their walk, and in this instance, to help them understand the error of their ways and guide them back to where they ought to be.  And this is to be done in love and gentleness.  We are not to yell at them, embarrass or ridicule them, but we are to work to restore them in love and compassion.  We are to address the issue with them in an attitude of meekness and humility.  Yes, we are to correct them.  However, this must be done in love and not in arrogance and hurtfulness.  Our ultimate goal is not to shame them, but to bring them to repentance.

And taking this one step further, we must look at ourselves so that we will not be tempted.  We must be careful we do not allow ourselves to be tempted in the same manner or tempted to come across as other than gentle and loving.  This is a distinct warning that we look at ourselves as to carefully observe our own spirit and conduct, lest our eyes be fixed not on ourselves, but exclusively on those of their brother.  And Satan can and will work against us in order disrupt our work for God.  

Jesus said it like this, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”  Matthew 18:15-17.  It is important that we do all we can to bring correction to a sinful brother or sister and bring them to repentance.  We cannot force the issue, but in love we must do what we can, being in prayer the whole time.

And finally, Paul wrote the following to the Church in Rome.  “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” Romans 15:1-3. Our focus as strong Christians are to take the responsibility to build up the weaker members of this body and not focus entirely on ourselves.  This is what Paul is saying in this focus verse, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” Galatians 6:1.  Just as Jesus did not please himself but accepted the roles of dying for us.  This, we also should die to ourselves for the sake of the body.  “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Hebrews 4:15

Verse of the Day Devotion: Hebrews 4:15  

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15 

Let us begin by putting this verse in the positive instead of the negative.   I do not think this will violate this verse but will perhaps bring more clarity.   “For we do have a High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, since He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.’   This book of Hebrews was written specifically to possibly two camps of Jews in my opinion.  First of all it was written to a Jew that was on the fence concerning Jesus Christ being THE Messiah (Priest, King, and Prophet) as foretold in the Old Testament writings.  They were fully Jewish in the sense that they obeyed and followed the Law of Moses but would not cross over into faith in Jesus the Christ.  The second possible group of Jews reading this could have been Jews that did embrace and believe that Jesus was the Messiah (Priest, King, and Prophet) but due to extreme persecution perhaps, they wanted to revert backwards to outwardly embrace the religion of Judaism and its governing laws and requirements so as to escape persecution and/or death.  

Today, in this age of Grace, the meaning of this verse has great significance, assurance, and promise for both Jew and Gentile.  The role of the High Priest functioned in the tabernacle or Temple as the go-between of a Holy God and a sinful people.  Aaron, the older brother of Moses, was the first High Priest to have this role in serving God in the tabernacle (Exodus 28, 29).  Therefore beginning with Aaron as the High Priest he would enter the Holiest of Holies on the Day of Atonement once a year and sprinkle sacrificial animal blood on the Mercy Seat and the peoples’ sins would be covered for another year.  And every year following this would take place.  But Jesus was not a descendant of Levi nor a descendant of Aaron’s priesthood.  Jesus was the great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, the priest of the God Most High (Genesis 14:18) who represented all of mankind.  And by Jesus’ own sacrificial blood shed on the Cross was atonement made for all mankind and He entered not the earthly tabernacle but the Heavenly tabernacle and presence of God as the great High Priest and the only go-between for God and Man.   After His resurrection, Jesus the Son of God passed through the heavens as the great High Priest and is sitting at the Right hand of the Father (Heb 4:14). 

Jesus being fully God and fully man (“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily…” Col 2:9), is therefore able to sympathize with our weaknesses.   The word ‘sympathize’ in the Greek means to ‘have sympathy, compassion, and pity for someone – to share the feelings and understand the sentiments of what a person is going through’.    Wow!  May that alone bring you comfort in your understanding of how Jesus personally views you and the struggles you face each day in this fallen world.  To further the point, Jesus as the great High Priest sympathizes with our weaknesses.  With ‘our’ weaknesses.  We all have them.  We are all in the same boat when it comes to having weaknesses.   No matter how lovely or holy someone you know appears to be, underneath the surface they struggle just like you do.   This word ‘weaknesses’ is a Greek word that is much broader than our understanding of being weak, as opposed to strong. It is the ‘incapacity or sickness or disease within, that prevents us from doing what we desire’.  Romans 16:9a says, “I speak in human terms because of the ‘weakness’ (the incapacity to do what is right) of your flesh’.   This same Greek word is also translated as ‘infirmities’ twelve times, primarily speaking of the physical weakness, sickness, disease, and incapacity we might have.   John 5:5 says “Now a certain man who was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years…”  Jesus told this man with this physical infirmity to ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’   Paul writes in II Cor 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities…..for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  

Take pleasure in our infirmities?   Wait a second.   This must be a misprint.  No, it is not.   Paul understood the reality of Jesus as the great High Priest who is sitting at the Right hand of the Father at this very moment (Heb 8:1).  Paul understood that Jesus does accurately sympathize with our weaknesses and infirmities as human beings and our daily struggles of temptation because Jesus Himself lived on this earth with a complete human nature just like yours, yet without that human nature being diseased by sin.  In every way, Jesus’ humanity correlates to our own experiences.    YOU are not alone.  As a believer, be reminded of this amazing truth of our Lord and Savior.  HE is the great High Priest sitting next to God the Father.  He knows and understands everything you go though. Because of His compassion, mercy, and grace, you can tap into His grace to help in time of need.     What a glorious High Priest and Savior we have!

Jaca Kier, Board Member, True Devotion Ministries, Inc. 

James 1:14

Verse of the Day Devotion: James 1:14 

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” – James 1:14    

There is one thing that every Christian deals with, and that is temptation.  Even Jesus, during His time on earth, dealt with it.  “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15.  Satan tempted Him just as he tempts us.  However, He never succumbed to the temptation.  He never sinned.

It is important to understand that sin is not something that has its origin outside of us.  Back to the temptations Christ endured, He did not sin because He desired to stay pure and true.  In the three recorded temptations, all  Satan did was bring up what Jesus could do: turning stones to bread, testing His Father that He would catch Him if He jumped from a high place, offering the whole world if He worshipped him.  Being tempted is not the issue.  Giving in to temptations is.  Jesus gives them a teaching on this.  “there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.” Mark 7:15.  The disciples did not understand what He meant, so they questioned Him about it.  “And He said to them, Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.” Mark 7:18-20.  What goes in doesn’t defile us, for it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated. In other words, eating does not cause us to sin.  What can cause us to sin is what comes from the heart.  “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23. 

Back to our focus verse.  “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”  James 1:14.  We are tempted when we are enticed by our own bad desires.  As an example, I cannot be tempted to eat Okra.  I do not like it no matter how it is cooked.  However, I can be tempted to eat chocolate ice cream, for it is my favorite flavor.  In the same way, we can be tempted to act in ways that are ungodly if we desire and lust after those things.  James then goes on with, “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”  James 1:15.  If we allow a temptation to take hold, we will probably give into to it, acting it out. 

So what do we do when temptation comes our way?  First, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12.  We should not stay where we are tempted, whether it is by actions, or by thoughts.  Be on your guard that you do not give in.  “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41.  We may not want to sin, but sometimes we will give in and fall.  This is why we need to flee it when we see it.  We need to do what we must in order to avoid temptation.  If we tend to get drunk if we drink, then we should stay away from alcohol.  If certain places give us bad thoughts, stay away from there.  It is better to avoid temptation itself then to fall into it.

Lastly, we must understand that God does not leave us alone regarding temptation.  “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.  We are not tempted in ways others are not, so we are not alone.  God is faithful.  He will not allow temptation that we cannot resist.  If He allows the temptation, He will provide the means to resist it, so that we can endure and overcome.  We need to submit to God when temptations come.  “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7.  We must submit to His will and avoid those things which are not.  Remember, it is our own desires and lusts that tempt us.  The enemy just brings it to our mind.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.