A Twisted Truth
Friday, November 15
A Twisted Truth
And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ Luke 4:12
The devil is smart. He’s not only watching and studying us; he’s also learning our defenses. Once he sees how we stand firm, he’ll work to twist our very defenses against us. Think about the times you’ve relied on something good, something that used to uplift and protect you, but then found it backfiring or even causing harm. That’s a tactic the enemy loves to use.
In the wilderness, Jesus used God’s Word as a shield against the devil’s temptations. Each time the devil tempted Him, Jesus responded with Scripture. Then, in a cunning twist, the devil decided to use God’s Word against Jesus, saying, “Jump off, Jesus! God’s Word says He will protect you!” The enemy was quoting Scripture to manipulate and attempt to lead Jesus astray.
The devil knows God’s Word—he knows it better than any of us. After all, he was once in Heaven, a high-ranking angel, witnessing God’s works firsthand. Job 38:4, 7 tells us, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?… when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Among these angels was Lucifer, the “light-bearer,” once beautiful and revered, who chose jealousy and pride over obedience. Now he is Satan, the fallen angel, cast down and filled with a singular mission: to destroy what God created.
The devil can’t defeat God’s Word, so he twists it. He did it to Jesus, and he tries to do it with us. Have you ever seen Scripture used to justify harm or manipulate others? That’s one of his oldest tricks. Taking God’s truth out of context, the devil works to turn a tool of freedom into one of bondage.
But Jesus knew the truth; He knew when Scripture was being twisted out of context. Do we? Back in biblical times, people couldn’t carry the Word around easily, and few could read. Memorization was their lifeline to God’s promises. Today, we have no excuse. We have access to the Bible in every form—print, digital, and audio—along with countless resources to help us understand its true meaning.
When you see Scripture, don’t just repeat it for face value. No! You have personal access to reading God’s Word—use it. Read it in context, pray for understanding, and ask God to reveal His truth to you. Stand on the full Word of God, the unaltered truth.
Prayer for today: Lord, thank You for giving me Your Word as a guide and protection. Help me to seek understanding, to know Your Word in its fullness, and to discern when it’s being misused. Strengthen me with wisdom, so I’m not deceived by twisted truths or half-lies. Open my heart and mind, Lord, that I may stand firm in Your promises and use them to reflect Your love and truth to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.