The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 4:9-13, “9 And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on

the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God,

throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written, “HE WILL COMMAND

HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU,” 11 and, “ON their

HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE

YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.”’

12 And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It is said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT

THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’

13 When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him

until an opportune time.”

The devil has failed in his first two attempts to get Jesus to sin. But he

is not giving up. The pinnacle refers to the edge of the Temple mount.

I’ve been there and it is a long way down! “If You are the Son of God –

and You are—throw Yourself down…” God Himself will protect You.

Has He not written such? In the first two temptations, Jesus answered

the devil with Scripture. Now, Satan uses Scripture to foundation his

case. But the Scripture Satan quoted omitted two Hebrew words that

translate “in all Your ways.” What Satan was proposing to Jesus was

neither Jesus’ way nor that of His Heavenly Father. Three things need

emphasis here: 1) always be sure that what you are doing is God’s

will and direction for your life; and 2) read the Scriptures carefully.

Just leaving out (or adding in) some words can change the meaning;

3) Don’t presume on the LORD’s protection. The snake-handlers of

Tennessee play with poisonous snakes in their churches, believing

that they are protected by the LORD. Yet, many have died from

snake-bites. God does not exist to play magic tricks. He is serious!

And Satan doesn’t quit. He just withdraws until “an opportune time.”

We love and pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas