You know, not everyone who claims to be doing God’s work is actually doing it. And that’s a lesson we can draw from the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness.

In Matthew 4:1-11, after fasting for forty days and nights, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to face temptation from the devil. The tempter comes along and challenges Him, saying, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Now, Jesus is hungry, so this might sound tempting, but His response is powerful. He says, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

See what Jesus is doing here? He’s using scripture to counter the lies of Satan. And this is crucial for us. Each time the devil tempts Him, he tries to twist scripture, quoting it out of context to manipulate Jesus. For instance, he tells Jesus to jump from a high place, saying God will send angels to catch Him. But again, Jesus responds with the truth, saying, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”

Jesus knows the Word of God inside and out, and He uses that knowledge to defend against temptation. This brings us to a significant takeaway, understanding the Bible is essential. If we don’t know the Word, we can easily be misled. Read your bible.

Over in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, Paul addresses the issue of false apostles. He says, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” Paul is calling out people who pretend to follow Jesus but are really leading others astray.

Not everyone who claims to do God’s work is genuinely doing it. This warning is especially relevant today, with so many voices out there – especially on social media. Just because someone says something uplifting doesn’t mean it aligns with the truth of God’s Word.

Paul emphasizes his commitment to spreading the truth. He stands firmly against these false apostles, declaring that they do not operate on the same level as him. He’s not seeking popularity or fame, he’s focused on sharing the true message of Jesus.

We need to be vigilant. Those who make their ministry about themselves rather than about Christ are often the most dangerous. They can use their positions to elevate themselves instead of pointing others to Jesus.

Paul continues by saying, “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” This is important to remember. Satan doesn’t always come at us looking scary. He can make bad things look good, presenting lies mixed with truth. This can make us doubt if he’s really that dangerous.

Think back to Adam and Eve. The serpent didn’t come to Eve all scary like, he made her think he was offering something good. This is how Satan works – tricking us into thinking sin is harmless or even beneficial.

Be. Careful. Not everything that looks or sounds good is from God. This is why it’s crucial to know the Bible and to discern the difference between what’s true and what’s just close enough to fool us. Read Your Bible.

Partial truth isn’t the full truth. If it’s not the full truth, then it’s not THE truth.

Finally, Paul reminds us that these false apostles will face judgment. Their end will correspond to their deeds. They might fool people for a while, but God sees everything, and He will deal with them in His time. This should give us peace of mind. Yes, there are false teachers out there, but they won’t get away with it forever. God will hold them accountable.

Remember, Paul warns us about people pretending to be servants of Christ while working against Him. Learn the difference between what is truly from God and what only looks like it is.

How do we do this? By staying in the Word, praying for wisdom, and not being fooled by appearances. In the end, truth will win. Those who deceive others will face God’s judgment, but if we hold fast to the gospel and stay grounded in God’s Word, we will stand firm in truth.

Read. Your. Bible.