Satan would convince us that our Father is holding out on us, that He does not really love us and care for us. When Satan approached Eve, he suggested that if God really loved her, He would permit her to eat of the forbidden tree. When Satan tempted Jesus, he raised the question of hunger: “If Your Father loves You, why are You hungry?”

The goodness of God is a great barrier against yielding to temptation. Since God is good, we do not need any other person (including Satan) to meet our needs. It is better to be hungry in the will of God than full outside the will of God. Once we start to doubt God’s goodness, we will be attracted to Satan’s offers; and the natural desires within will reach out for his bait. Moses warned Israel not to forget God’s goodness when they began to
enjoy the blessings of the Promised Land. We need this warning today.

Next time you are tempted, meditate on the goodness of God in your life. If you think you need something, wait on the Lord to provide it. Never toy with the devil’s bait. Remember that one purpose for temptation is to teach us patience. David was tempted twice to kill King Saul and hasten his own coronation, but he resisted the temptation and waited for God’s time.

Remember this: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11, NIV)

Also read: Deuteronomy 6:10-15; Jeremiah 9:24; James 1:5, 17.

Action assignment: List several possible situations that Satan could use to tempt you. Determine now what you would do. As you decide, think of God’s goodness in your life. How might patience help you in a given instance of temptation?

Warren W. Wiersbe
www.backtothebible.in