(The following is the March 8 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Luke 4 and pay close attention to verses 1-13.)

Christians should want nothing to do with Satan. Scripture teaches that he is a liar, constantly searching for someone to devour. Satan failed to tempt Jesus to sin, but he has far more success with humans.

Satan will not tempt us once and forever walk away defeated if we resist. He keeps pushing us to sin and dishonor God through our thoughts, words, and deeds. At the end of Jesus’ temptation, “After the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time” (v. 13). “For a time” suggests that Satan had not permanently abandoned tempting Jesus. He is not through tempting us either.

It is discouraging to face temptation repeatedly, especially concerning sins we have often committed. Satan knows our weaknesses, and he tries to capitalize on them. Continued failure on our part harms our walk with Christ and our public witness.

When we struggle with temptation, it helps to remember that Satan will not waste his time on someone already doing what he wants them to do. Why should he? He will go after those eager to please God to derail them from following Christ’s straight and narrow path. Therefore, when we experience temptation, one thing we should do is pause and praise God that his Holy Spirit is working in our lives to warn us about the spiritual danger we face.

Beware if you can’t remember the last time you were tempted to sin. You may be willingly diving into sin so often that Satan leaves you alone in hopes that you keep doing what you are already doing. That is not a place anyone should be.

Next Step:
Think about a recent time of temptation. How did you respond? Ask God to transform future temptations from moments of guilt and failure to victories where you recognize and praise him for his Holy Spirit’s presence and work in you.