Devotional of the week: Heavenly Protection (6 in Luke 4 series)

Angels looking down at St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican.

“If you are the Son of God, jump off!” Luke 4:9

Do we leave God’s protective cover, inadvertently or through willful disobedience? When I was at university, one of my closest friends was killed in a car accident. I was later stunned when a friend explained that she died because she had left God’s protection and was outside his will. Not exactly words of comfort. I turned to my Bible in desperation, trying to make sense of this tragedy, and came across these words: “For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them?” (1 Corinthians 2:11). I immediately felt peace and understood that I didn’t need to be the judge. I might never figure out why she died, but I didn’t need to have all of the answers.

In our text, Satan is thinking of God’s protective cover when he tempts Jesus the third time, turning to the relationship Jesus has with his Father. Satan would have Jesus test God’s promises, but again Jesus stands firm. He knows his identity; he knows that the true God will fill his needs; he knows that he is loved, safe, protected, and secure. He doesn’t need to exploit the grace of his Father.

Although we live in a fallen world, where loved ones suffer and not all our prayers are answered, yet we know too that the Lord sends his angels to guard over us. We ask for his protection and seek not test his boundaries.

Prayer: Father God, because of your great love you save us. Thank you for all the miracles you’ve performed for us that we don’t even know about. May we be ever thankful. Amen.