ACE #175: The Enemy on Your Track

There’s this song we sing in our choir called “I Made a Vow” by the Gospel Keynotes.  I love it because the song is about being determined to keep a commitment to God in spite of how the enemy tempts us and attacks us.  The lyrics read:

I made, a vow to the Lord
I made, a vow to the Lord
I promised Him I'd go
Every step of the way

I made, I made, I made
I made, I made a vow
To the Lord
Oh yes I did

Sometimes, O Satan
Gets on my track
Don't you know he tried
So many times to turn me back
But I know, I've got to go on
And stand up to my test
For I made a vow

To the Lord

Even Jesus was tempted by Satan!  Satan tried to distract Jesus from doing what he set out to do by speaking to his physical weakness, which was hunger. 

We must be determined to stand on our promises to God and to worship and serve Him only.  Jesus already gave us the example that we should use to withstand the tests and temptations that threaten to get us off track.  It’s time to call Satan out with a quick “Get thee behind me” and maintain our vows and our commitments to God.

 

I Made a Vow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVssTer4XNU

 

Matthew 4:1-11

Satan Tempts Jesus

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³ Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”^[a]

⁵ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”^[b]

⁷ Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”^[c]

⁸ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you,^[d] Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”^[e]

¹¹ Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

 

 

James Tissot - Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness

(Jésus tenté dans le désert) - Brooklyn Museum