God’s precious promises – Day 7
Be wary of false promises
Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli
2 kuThimothewu 3
Nothing is more demoralizing than having our faith and values undermined by believing the false promises of unscrupulous people.
The Bible warns us of the danger of being deceived: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
The devil did not hesitate to confront and challenge Jesus who must have been hungry and physically weak after fasting for 40 days in the desert: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Jesus replied that man does not live on bread alone.
The devil then took Jesus to a pinnacle of the temple, and quoting from Psalm 91:11-12, challenged him to prove he was from God by jumping down. Jesus replied: “It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
The devil led Jesus to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their splendour. Then came the false promise: “All this I will give you.” And the instruction — “if you will bow down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9).
Jesus would have none of it. He gave the devil short shrift: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
How do we combat the devil and the evil he brought into the world?
We stand on the promise of God’s word that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Pray to God that we have the strength of character to do so.
