Matthew 4:5-6 Satan or God?

Matt 4:5-6
⁵Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
⁶“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
” ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ “

After becoming more familiar with His word, I was really startled to see that even Satan uses it. It’s interesting that the picture of Satan as the ugly red devil with a pitchfork is the complete wrong picture that’s painted in the bible. 2 Cor 11:14 tells us that Satan “masquerades as an angel of light” meaning he’s brilliant.

Now think about it, how scary is that? Satan, the guy we’re trying to fight against, walks around as an angel of light who can and does use scripture. I found it intimidating and scared for some time. How can I tell the difference between God and Satan?

To answer that question, read Matthew 4:5-6. You see that Satan uses scriptures for self gain. “Throw yourself down to prove that you’re the Son of God because it says in the bible He’ll save you.” You begin to see that when you start hearing scriptures in your head that are for your benefit, it’s Satan masquerading as the angel of light. The junk thing about it is that our natural tendancy is to be selfish and to promote ourselves so the verses he gives us to do such things, we have a tendancy to act on it.

I know that Satan has done this to me and unfortunately, I fell into the trap. I became super angry at someone because that person wouldn’t follow a certain verse that was in the bible, but when I look back at it, it was only to benefit me. I was blinded by my own self and Satan’s use of the word.

Now you gotta look at yourself. Do you do these things? Do you listen to the voices in your head when they tell you scriptures that benefit you? You are being deceived. Even scarier, are you the one spitting out scripture that benefits you? You have become the deceiver or just worked on the agenda of Satan.

1 Tim 1:8 But we know that the Law is good, IF one uses it lawfully.

1 Corinthians 10:24 Are you loving…..yourself?

1 Corinthians 10:24
24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Looking at the verse before, is everything you do on the basis of love….for others? Are you looking for things to do for self gain such as recognition, proving a point, or even trying to get near someone? How selfish these motives are!! When you look at your life, is there moments where you do things that had absolutely no hint of selfishness in it? If you say yes, GREAT!!! Now let me burst your bubble. Do you do these selfless things all the time? If that answer is no, you’re not like Jesus. Even He, when He wanted to be alone, served others with healing, feeding and preaching (Luke 9:10-17).

I learned that quiet times are Jesus to you and Jesus through you. The bible is God telling you what you suck at and what you should work on. Jesus through you SHOULD be about other’s perception of you. Do they see Jesus through you? It’s a concept I need to grasp. How does reading affect others around you?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility (lowering yourself to look up at people), consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil 2:3-4