Bible Reading: Matthew 4:1-17
Special Verse: Psalm 119:11
"Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee."
Be mindful that Satan can twist Scripture to deceive us into disobedience. A striking example of this is a video I recently watched about a church that handled deadly snakes to demonstrate the truth of Mark 16:17-18. Tragically, the pastor later died from a rattlesnake bite.
This deception is not new. In the Garden of Eden, Satan misled Adam and Eve by planting doubt in their hearts with the question, “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1). By challenging the integrity of God's Word, he led them astray. Similarly, when Jesus fasted in the wilderness, Satan quoted Scripture out of context, urging Him to throw Himself down from a high place to test God’s promise of angelic protection. However, Jesus knew that deliberately putting Himself in danger was not an act of faith but of recklessness.
To avoid misusing Scripture, we must examine our motives. If we use God’s Word for self-promotion, personal gain, or to prove a point about ourselves, we are misapplying it. Scripture should always glorify God, not man. The more we internalize God’s Word, the more it will purify our hearts and guide us in truth.