When I was in college, I always tried to study for major exams with guys from fraternities. At Mizzou most fraternities kept a large “test file.” Past members left their graded papers for the aid of future students. Professors often reused questions when teaching the same class semester after semester. An ecology professor added only one new question per test, the rest being repeats. The file for his course proved invaluable. Needless to say, my buddy and I scored well.

After days in the wilderness, hungry and alone, Jesus faced a tripartite test of temptation. Fortunately, Jesus knew where to find answers to the exam.

Every time Satan made an offer, Jesus hit back with a line of Scripture. For instance, realizing Jesus was hungry, Satan challenged him to turn stones into bread. Simple for the creator of the world, right? Jesus argued, man shall not live by bread alone, a quote from the book of Deuteronomy.

Jesus could have swatted Satan away. But he faced temptations in his human body to help us see what’s possible. We too can overcome attacks from the evil one, if we know the Scriptures and apply them properly. The Word of God parries the thrusts of our enemies—the world, the flesh and the devil.

When temptations arrive, you and I may feel unprepared or blindsided. But rest assured, we have answers to every test. They’re in that file we label the Bible. Let the Word of God defend and sustain you, and you’ll score well as life goes on.

Luke 4:1-13; Deuteronomy 8:3

Photo by Museums Victoria