“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” Luke 4:13
Read Luke 4:1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]”
9 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.’[d]”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]”
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Most translations of the Bible title this chapter “The Temptation of Jesus.”
Interestingly, at the end of all that tempting we have verse 13. Satan left him until an opportune time.
An opportune time.
What would that look like?
What are the ‘opportune times’ in your life Satan seized and subsequently spun you far from God?
How could you have stopped him?
What are those opportune times he’s watching and waiting for now?
Are you prepared to not deliver?
James 4:7 tells us, “submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Times of tempting are trying and tiresome. at best. But, those times will not go on forever.
Remember the promise of I Corinthians 10:13, ” And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Thanks for reading! Please return Thursday, May 30, for the next post.