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Undercover police officers often catch drug offenders by posing as dealer and daring the illegal dealer like this: “Everybody says they can deliver, but you look too young, or too old, or like a nerd.” When the bad dealer thinks he’s in control, the police trap him. That’s how Satan often traps us—makes us think we’re in control by testing our egos. He tried that on Jesus. In Matthew Chapter 4, he dared Jesus to turn stones into bread to prove He was God’s Son. But Jesus was ready for him. He said, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple. He said, “‘If you are the Son of God, jump off! The Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you.’” Jesus replied, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Then the devil took Him to the peak of a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I’ll give it all to you,” he said, “if you kneel down and worship me.” Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, you must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” Satan quoted Scripture daring and hoping to deter Jesus from His mission of service and sacrifice. But Jesus was ready. He used the Bible correctly to resist the devil—a tactic we too must use today to defeat him.
