Word for the Soul

Pray for Everything

October 26, 2025October 24, 2025 Loring Schultz

We pick up ‘The Gospel of Jesus Christ’ the book of Mark next week.

Read: Joshua 9 NLT – The Gibeonites Deceive Israel – Now all – Bible Gateway

“So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the LORD.” Joshua 9:14 NLT

In a fallen world there are many forms of deception. I believe in the 21^st century where we are living, we have seen the most ingenious methods to deceive even the most intelligent unsuspecting candidate. Most, if not all, scammers are one step ahead of many of their victims. They have nothing to do all day but to plan their next great deceptive scheme. There have been tragic results over the years of people losing everything they ever own by deception. Some were naïve in trusting what they thought they knew, others were taken in by scams that gave the impression they are from creditable, even official government sources, and then there are those who are taken in by their own greed looking to make that fast buck in a ‘guaranteed’ investment. The greatest tragedy is not having consulted the Lord God in prayer about any decision no matter how small it is thinking you can handle it on your own. The Lord wants you to confide in Him in prayer as He continually directs you in your new territory.

Joshua and the leaders of Israel failed to consult the Lord on a matter they thought they were able to handle without His guidance. They forgot the Lord God was leading them, and He was the one in charge. Joshua was leading the people, but God was leading Joshua and the nation of Israel as a whole. Perhaps overconfidence played a part due to their recent victory at Ai when they were approached by a delegation from Gibeon six miles down the road presenting themselves as coming from a foreign nation in a far distant land. They had come to seek a peace treaty with Israel after Jericho and Ai were destroyed and figured they were next. Their deception was well thought out. Joshua 9:12-13 describes the great lengths they went to deceiving Israel, “This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy. These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.” (nlt) Israel fell to the deception by what they saw. They felt no need to ask God for His guidance after observing their clothing, food rations and speaking with the delegation. However, not everything is as it seems.

Failure to pray about every situation that comes into our lives will have devastating consequences, especially when we are still adjusting to our new space. Don’t forget, God brought you to your current place and He is not done leading you, nor will He ever be. Israel forgot that and made a treaty with the people of Gibeon who they were to destroy. “Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath. Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby!” (Jos. 9:15-16 nlt) Israel was deceived.

After Joshua found out the truth of who the Gibeonites were and they were neighbors, he made them servants tend to carry water and woodcutting. Since the treaty was made in the name of Jehovah, it was sacred and could not be broken. Joshua honored the treaty allowing them to live.

Some Bible passages are hard for us to understand, but if we ask for the Lord’s help as we search the scriptures He will give great insights. We have seen many insights we can apply to our lives from Joshua and Israel conquering their new territory. Today see the importance of praying for everything. There are a lot of matters we handle ourselves without falling into a trap of deception. With that being said, in conclusion I leave you with an excerpt from a yesteryear devotional from the late Dr. Robert A. Cook;

“Pray your way through the day. Pray when you wake up so you won’t greet the family with a snarl. Pray on your way to school or to work. Pray before you tackled the first job of the day, whatever it may be. Pray before you answer the phone…. .Pray before you open a letter…… Pray before you make a decision. Pray before you hire a person and before you fire one, if you have to. Pray before you enter a business deal……Pray your way through the day.” (1)

Praying our way through the day makes good sense, that way we cover everything both large and small. Remember you haven’t been here before, allow God to make decisions for you. ‘Pray for everything’. He will make it clear what to do and you won’t be deceived.

(1) Cook, Robert. Today With The King, Wheaton, Scripture Press, 1985.

‘A Betting’ Family: Sportsbooks, Professional Sports, Collegian Sports, The Major Networks, and even Disney

October 25, 2025October 24, 2025 Loring Schultz

In light of the recent arrests of major sports figures concerning sports gambling ‘A repost from 2023 is in order.’

Betting on sporting events has been around as long as there has been competition between individuals touting their favorite team, or their choice of the victor in the neighborhood playground brawl. The method of sports betting up until a few years ago consisted mostly of money exchanging hands between friends, co-workers, and an organized pool of a greater extent. Gambling even at this small level is considered illegal in most states but has not been on law enforcement’s top list of crimes to enforce. For the causal sports fan betting on their favorite team, the Super Bowl, or filling out a NCAA March madness bracket (which I confess to doing and enjoy), seems to the average person as ‘no harm no foul.’ But that all began to change in the year 2018.

The Supreme Court, in 2018, stuck down the case Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. The courtruled a Federal ban that prohibited commercial sports betting in the United States was unconstitutional. Las Vegas, Nevada was the only legal avenue to wagering on sporting events. Now through 33 states and the District of Columbia, 146 million people have the opportunity to bet legally on sporting events. Lifting the Federal ban on sports betting has proven lucrative for the betting operators and Casinos across the country and for the coffers of state governments, but an ensuing problem of addiction, debt, and broken relationships have escalated.

“The Hill” addressed this growing concern in an article posted by on February 10, 2023 titled “Sports betting has risen tenfold in three years. Addiction experts fear the next opioid crisis” Quoting Timothy Fong, a clinical professor of psychiatry, The Hill writes, “We have a movement toward expanding what was once considered a sin, what was once considered a vice, and embedding it at every level of American culture, down to kindergarten. ‘Sports gambling market.’ ten years ago, those words didn’t exist, what you have is this massive, exponential expansion of gambling into homes, faster than we can study or monitor it.” (1)

CNN noted the ‘Council of Compulsive Gambling of N.J.’ reported a 60% increase on their hotline since 2018. “Newsweek” reported the main target of sports betting companies are young men. In an interview with Pew Research last year, Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling said, “We believe that the risks for gambling addiction overall have grown 30 percent from 2018 to 2021, with the risk concentrated among young males 18 to 24 who are sports bettors,”(2)

The attractiveness of sports betting is enhanced by the many celebrity sports figures promoting it, along with the major networks televising the games noting the betting lines and the odds of winning before, during, and even near the end of the game. It’s non-stop betting. The networks do this in partnership with the top betting on-line sportsbooks and the blessings of the professional sports leagues and the colleges and universities.

More from “The Hill’ article; “Teams and league owners love sports betting because they ‘have found that engagement is off the charts among people who are placing bets on games,’ said Daniel Barbarisi, author of ‘Dueling with Kings: High Stakes, Killer Sharks, and the Get-Rich Promise of Daily Fantasy Sports.’ People who bet on games ‘are not just tuning out if it’s a blowout,’ Barbarisi said, because they bet on more than the final score. Fans can place wagers on the margin of victory, the combined point total from both teams and other metrics — such as whether Aaron Judge will hit a home run or Max Scherzer will ring up double-digit strikeouts.” (1)

In 2021 sportsbooks generated approximately $4.3 billion in revenue. That’s just a little too much for some top executives to pass up despite the addictive nature of it, including Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney. In 2019, Disney was skittish of engaging in sports betting in fear of tarnishing their family friendly entertainment image. But that fear has now dissolved into the opportunity to make millions of dollars. “Livemint.com” posted on October 13 of this year(2023), “In August, the company struck a 10-year deal with sports-betting company Penn Entertainment to bring gambling to Disney’s ESPN sports network. Sports fans will be able to wager on games on their phones through a new app called ESPN Bet that accepts bets through Penn’s sportsbook.” (3) Iger changed his mind on sports betting as he observed his two sons involved with it. “Livemint.com” reports, “Iger, who saw his two adult sons glued to gambling apps on their smartphones, the chance to engage a younger male audience, and the money, were eventually too good to pass up. Penn will pay Disney $1.5 billion in cash while ESPN will receive warrants worth about $500 million to purchase shares in the gambling company. Penn will operate the app and Disney will help market it.” (3)

It is not too difficult to see how and why sports betting with easy access is so alluring and can be addictive. The acceptance by the American people has also increased due to the constant exposure during games being televised and access through their smart phones. A recent poll conducted by the ‘The Washington Post’ and ‘The University of Maryland’ noted 55 % of Americans approved of legal sports betting in 2017 before the Supreme Court decision, today 66% approve. (4) The troubling fact is that most people engaging in sports betting and supporting it are blinded to the side effects on those who are subject to addition, even themselves if not controlled. In writing for the “Gospel Coalition” Joe Carter expressed his concern, “A frequent concern expressed about sports betting is that it encourages predatory gambling and leads to increases in problem gambling. Predatory gambling is the practice of using gambling to prey on human weakness for profit……….. the casino industry, a major source of predatory gambling within the US, attracts a disproportionate share of low-income workers, retirees, minorities, and people with disabilities. The poor are often the targets of predatory gambling in all forms—and the most susceptible to it.” (5)

Christians need to be aware and deeply concerned about this growing vice, and it is a vice. A little bet placed on your phone may seem harmless, especially with all the incentives and perks offered by the sportsbooks (how can I lose), but once started the lure of excitement and winning may be too much to handle. Soon we find ourselves in deep despair.

Psalm 37:4 says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” (NLT) Looking for excitement and joy in your life, it is found in the Lord, a guaranteed winner.

We are to be good stewards of our money, such as caring for poor. “If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD—and he will repay you!” (Prov. 19:17 NLT) Sounds like another guaranteed winner.

And the apostle Paul gives us a stern warning about the love of money in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (NLT)

Sports betting has now become a legal accepted part of the sports culture. If you are an avid sports fan or a casual fan, take note it is now impossible not to avoid the enticing ads placed by the sportsbooks in every sporting event. I’m afraid they are here to stay. How should we as Christians respond? May we become a ‘Praying Family’ being wise stewards of our money, along with helping, encouraging, and praying for those who have experienced addiction, debt, and a broken relationship as a result of legalized sports betting.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/faqs-sports-betting/#:~:text=commits%20God%2Dgiven%20resources%20to,God’s%20provisional%20plan%20for%20humans.

https://thehill.com/business/3851713-sports-betting-has-risen-tenfold-in-three-years-addiction-experts-fear-the-next-opioid-crisis/

https://www.newsweek.com/2023/04/07/sports-betting-boom-linked-rising-gambling-addiction-anxiety-suicide-1789055.html

https://www.livemint.com/news/disney-agonized-about-sports-betting-now-it-s-going-all-in-11697140295777.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/08/legal-sports-betting-support-americans/

Devotionals

Accountability in Public Prayer

October 24, 2025October 23, 2025 Loring Schultz

“In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.” 1 Timothy 2:8 NLT

Think back to the last Sunday morning worship service you have attended. What was the most important part of the service for you? Was it the singing or the reading of Scripture? Perhaps the time of confession is the most beneficial for you, but is it most important? Maybe you prefer to fast forward right to the sermon, for that is where you get fed and receive strength for the upcoming week. All of these on their own are very important but it is also how they collectively form the corporate worship service together that is important. But there is one part I haven’t mentioned yet, and it’s the glue that keeps it all together in working order and makes it happen It’s prayer.

The apostle Paul instructing Timothy in the proper order of the worship service said, “In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God.” (1Tim.2:8 nlt) The men who pray have an enormous responsibility and are accountable as they lead the congregation in prayer before almighty God. Paul says they are ‘to pray with holy hands lifted up to God.’ Paul is not concerned about posture here, ‘holy hands’ represents one’s life being free from every form of evil. The men who pray must approach God in a pure and holy manner. We note also Paul says men are to pray.

If one’s life is to be free from every form of evil it should be free from anger and controversy, which Paul notes at the end of our key verse. The man of God (who is not perfect) is to be right with God with sin confessed and living righteously when leading God’s people in public prayer as part of the worship service. For this he is accountable.

Devotionals

Prayer Walk

October 23, 2025October 21, 2025 Loring Schultz

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” Matthew 9:37-38 ESV

Living in the United States there are plenty of opportunities to participate in various walks for a worthy cause. Organized by volunteers, these walks take on the spirit and passion each walker brings with them. Grass roots movements, as they are called, inspire others with the same passion and desire to help the cause. Sponsored events, although much larger, fail to display the true passion of any movement as they are concerned only with numbers. People dedicated to their righteous cause will have success because what drives them is an unselfish attitude to help others.

This week my church started a weekly ‘Prayer Walk.’ Those with the desire and passion for our neighbors will gather each week to walk and pray together. A simple walk through the streets of the neighborhood consisting of residential properties, a nearby elementary school, a major university, and a few commercial buildings. The desire and compassion for each individual throughout the neighborhood is for their well-being and safety, but most of all for them to come to know the Lord Jesus as their savior. This is beginning as a small grass roots movement with a very big job to do. Jesus told His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Mt.9:37-38 esv)

No matter where you live, there is opportunity for you to start your own prayer walk for your neighborhood. You can start with yourself as you do your daily walks, adding a close friend or two with the same passion. Small groups within your church can be a source to expand walks in different communities in your area. Small grass roots movement start small, but don’t stay small for very long as the passion swells, especially for the lost. Jesus said the harvest is plentiful so let’s get to work. We can start with a prayer walk.

Devotionals

Heroes

October 22, 2025October 21, 2025 Loring Schultz

Read: Judges 6:1-16 NLT – Gideon Becomes Israel’s Judge – The – Bible Gateway

“The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, ‘Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!’” Judges 6:12 NLT

Photo by christopher lemercier on Unsplash

“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” 1 Corinthians 1:27 NLT

Do you ever consider yourself to be a hero, a mighty person of valor, a mighty and courageous warrior? If not, consider yourself to be one, because you are or at least you could be. All around us wherever we reside there is some kind of trouble. Some of us have quite a bit, others not so much, but we live in an imperfect world so there will be some. Trouble and chaos stem from sin in the world. Sinners do what comes naturally. At times it takes the form of violence, drug and alcohol abuse, along with many other vices that run through our neighborhoods.

Gideon had a different kind of trouble in his day. The children of Israel once again did evil against God who then put them under the hand of the Midianites. The Midianites would constantly attack, stealing their crops and their livestock. Israel was starving from lack of food. When Israel cried out to God, as in other times, God raised up a judge to deliver them. This time it was Gideon, whose family was the weakest tribe of Manasseh, and Gideon was the weakest in his family. Yet, God chose him to deliver Israel with His help.

The apostle Paul said God chose the weak and those the world considers foolish to shame those who think they are wise. That’s us. The Lord has chosen us, Christians, to tell the good news about Him and His salvation plan for everyone. The trouble in our world will be relieved only through the changed lives of men and women who trust in the Lord. That’s where we come in. Heroes live a life pleasing to God drawing others to accept Christ. He alone saves them but uses His heroes. Consider yourself one in God’s eyes.

Devotionals

Hope, Tribulation, and Prayer

October 21, 2025October 20, 2025 Loring Schultz

Read: Romans 12:9-21 ESV – Marks of the True Christian – Let love – Bible Gateway

“rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,” Romans 12:12 NASB

The Bible has many key verses that are remembered and memorized by individuals to grab on to and hold for certain needs as they arise. Romans 12:12 is one example. “rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer. “ (nasb) This verse is often referenced in doing a word search on prayer, which is what led me to this verse this week. Being devoted to prayer should not only be during our times of struggle but always being in prayer daily.

But I got to think about the other two words. A biblical word search of ‘hope’ and ‘tribulation’ will also lead you to this verse along with several others. Paul, the author of Romans, says Christians should be rejoicing in hope. There is much to be joyful for. Despite the pain and suffering in the world affecting all people, Christians and non-Christians alike, there is a blessed hope for all who know Christ as savior. We can rejoice knowing the assurance of Jesus’ return and in our redemption from sin from His work on the cross.

Being patient in tribulation may be a little hard to do. Tribulation is a scary word. Other translations use the word ‘trouble’ or ‘affliction’ for ‘tribulation.’ It may soften the blow a little, but not much. The Greek word that is used here means, “a pressing, pressure, anything which burdens the spirit.” No matter how you look at it, being patient when you have any kind of trouble pressing down on you requires help from the Holy Spirit. And Christians have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, another hope (a certainty) to rejoice in.

If we are devoted to prayer in our daily lives we will grow in our relationship with the Lord. If we are devoted to prayer our hope in Christ will be realized. If we are devoted to prayer we will feel the Holy Spirit working in our lives through every trial and tribulation. Let us start with being devoted to prayer.

Devotionals

Restoration: A Dream Come True

October 20, 2025October 17, 2025 Loring Schultz

Read: Psalm 126 NLT – Psalm 126 – A song for pilgrims – Bible Gateway

“When the LORD brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!” Psalm 126:1 NLT

True restoration is only realized when one is truly broken. Brokenness shows itself in various ways. The most common form of brokenness among all of us who breathe is in personal relationships. Here again, these show themselves through various means and circumstances. The longing for a relationship to be restored at times seems an impossibility, but when it occurs is a dream come true. Restorations do occur in accordance with God’s will and timing.

The nation Israel was restored to their land after seventy years of captivity in Babylon due to their gross sin against God. Although it was prophesized that they would return, it all seemed like a dream to them when it happened. They almost couldn’t believe it. Psalm 126 is a song of joy for the restoration of Israel to the land. The psalmist wrote that they were filled with laughter and sang for joy. The surrounding nations joined them in acknowledging the amazing things God had done for them. They asked the Lord to restore their fortunes by planting their seeds in tears, but they will rejoice in the harvest to come once again.

God is in the restoration business. No one is more broken than a sinner separated from God because of their sin. We were born with a sin nature, making us all broken and in need of restoration to God. With God being in the restoration business, He made it possible for each of us to be restored to Him through the blood of Christ on the cross of Calvary. There is nothing we could ever do to make things right with God. It is only through our acceptance of Christ as our savior. We can rejoice with the broken people of Isarel in their restoration to their land and our salvation through Christ’s sacrifice for us as we accept Him. A dream come true.

Bible Studies

“The Last Supper part 2” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

October 19, 2025October 17, 2025 Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 14:22-31 NLT – As they were eating, Jesus took some – Bible Gateway

“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take it, for this is my body.’” Mark 14:22 NLT

Last week we started to work our way through the Last Supper. Jesus’ final meal with His disciples was the celebration of Passover. In this final meal Jesus gives new meaning to the Passover meal. Let’s begin.

Jesus gathered around the table with His disciples in an upper room prepared for the Passover meal. The celebration symbolizes God redeeming His people or slavery from the Egyptians. The meal would take most of the evening beginning at sunset and usually finishing by midnight. It was noted last week Jesus make a statement somewhere in the course of the meal, perhaps early on, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me…… It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me.” (Mk.14:18, 20 nlt) The disciples thought this to be unimaginable and impossible, except Judas who already had the thirty pieces of silver in his pocket. Jesus went on to explain, “For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” (Mk. 14:21 nlt)

As the meal continued, Judas gone at this point, “Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take it, for this is my body.’” (Mk.14:22 nlt) Scripture does not revealed at what part of the meal this took place, but it is thought to be right before eating the roasted lamb. The bread in the Passover meal represented Israel being separated from their old way of living under slavery in Egypt. As the bread was lifted up, the head of the meal would say, “This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let everyone who hungers come and eat; let everyone who is needy come and eat the Passover meal.” Jesus didn’t say that. He said, ‘Take it, for this is my body.’ Jesus brought new meaning to this meal. Jesus applied it to Himself and the suffering He will endure for the salvation of many. The unleavened bread represented His body which would be broken as He will be nailed to a cross.

Jesus then took the cup of wine giving thanks for it to God and gave it to His disciples to drink. “And he said to them, ‘This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.’” (Mk.14:24 nlt) The prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 53 of the ‘suffering servant.’ “Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many And interceded for the transgressors.” (Is.53:12 nasb) The wine represents Jesus’ blood that will be shed (poured out) for the remission of sins. Again, Jesus gives a new meaning here in establishing a new covenant. The shedding of blood in a sacrifice was required by God for an establishment of a covenant. Jesus’ blood needed to shed for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus said His blood was confirming the new covenant.

Jesus confirms to His disciples this is the last time He will drink wine with them until He drinks new in the kingdom of God. In less than twelve hours Jesus will be put on a cross to suffer and die for our sins. His body will be broken and His blood shed. Mark writes after the meal they sung a hymn, the traditional Passover Hallel of Psalm 118, then they went to the Mount of Olives.

The disciples once again get some disturbing news from their Messiah as they are walking to the Mount of Olives. Jesus tells them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’” (Mk.14:27 nlt) This was prophesied in the Old Testament book of Zechariah, and of course, all prophesies in Scripture come true. But the disciples themselves have a hard time with it. Jesus does tell them He will meet them in Galilee after He is resurrected, but it seems to go over their heads as they all claim they would never desert Jesus, especially Peter. Jesus gives it to Peter straight, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” (Mk.14:30 nlt) Peter let his pride get the best of him. We will continue to see prophecy unfold throughout the remainer of our study in the book of Mark fulfilling the gospel message that Jesus came to save sinners. Until next week………

A Christian Perspective

Praying for the Salvation of our Leaders

October 18, 2025October 15, 2025 Loring Schultz

Read: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 NLT – Instructions about Worship – I urge – Bible Gateway

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT

In the book of 1 Timothy the apostle Paul is giving instructions to young Timothy, a pastor in the ancient city of Ephesus. Chapter 2 begins Paul’s teaching on church worship. He starts with prayer, urging Timothy as the pastor to set the example of praying for the salvation of all people, It is the duty of an evangelistic church to pray for the lost among us and that includes those who rule over us. Paul says to pray for all people interceding on their behalf for this pleases God who desires all to be saved and understand the truth of the gospel message.

Christians often fall short in prayer for our leaders by taking 1Timothy 2:2 as a prayer for an orderly and peaceful life only. That is certainly a part of it, but more important is the salvation of each leader in the world today. That indeed is needed most. Then they need wisdom to govern in a godly manner and in dignity.

What better place to start praying for our leaders than in our churches on a Sunday morning. Praying for our local leaders, state governments, and all those on the federal and national level of every country in the world is our responsibility. Christians are to pray for their salvation and wisdom in governing. This is what the apostle is instructing us to do. Let us not fall short of what God desires for us, for ‘this is good and pleases God our Savior.’

Devotionals

An Opportune Time

October 17, 2025October 16, 2025 Loring Schultz

Read: Luke 4:1-13 NIV – Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness – Bible Gateway

“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” Luke 4:13 NIV

A familiar story in the New Testament of the Bible is the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Notably the devil offered up three temptations that are recorded in Scripture. It can be assumed that these were the only temptations the devil threw at Jesus but can we be sure. In our text today in Luke 4:2 it says, ‘where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.’ (niv) That language in all translations points to on-going temptations throughout the forty days. We are not told what the temptations were, but they were there. At the end of the forty days Scripture records that Jesus was hungry having fasted the entire time and Satan saw an opportune time to employ a few more temptations on Jesus.

The evil one tempts us at our weakness moments. Jesus was tempted in His weakest physical moment when wandering in the wilderness for forty days and not eating. At the completion of the forty days the first recorded temptation by Satan was “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” (Lk.4:3 niv) Certainly a weak moment for Jesus. His answer, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” (Lk.4:4 niv) Jesus resisted the temptation at His weakness moment. At the conclusion of the last two temptations Scripture tells us the devil left him until an opportune time.

Satan did not give up on Jesus but looked for another opportunity to tempt Him or trap Him through the schemes of the Pharisees. As Satan waited for an opportune time to tempt Jesus, he waits for just the right time to tempt us, usually in our weakest moment. We need to have our guard up at all times. The devil will not give up. He will wait for the weakest moment. Peter warns us “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1Pt.5:8 niv) Don’t give the devil an opportune time.