Twisted Traumatizing Texts

wpid-2015-10-16-09.28.58.jpg.jpegThen he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’

And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

Luke 4:9-12, NKJV

Just because someone quotes Scriptures does not mean this person is speaking God’s mind for you in your situation!

Satan here is quoting from the Bible. In fact, this is the third in the series of temptations presented to Jesus. in other words, he waited to unload the most dangerous one for last.

Knowing Jesus is committed to honoring God’s word, it is no shock that Satan decided to torture a text to try and get Jesus to do his bidding.

Jesus saw through it, though.

He did not confuse someone quoting Scripture with God’s word because Jesus knew God and knew this was not what God wanted for him to do.

We need to take our ques from Jesus on this. Part of our healing as faithful spouses from spiritual abuse–i.e. the misuse of Biblical texts to manipulate and harm us–is to realize the person quoting the text is not speaking God’s heart for us in that moment even if they are using a Bible verse or two like Satan did here.

Some common and classically abused biblical texts used against faithful spouses include Malachi 2:16, Ephesians 5:22-29, and the book of Hosea (see post here).

Sadly, these are not the only texts used against faithful spouses. The Destroyer is aware of our weak points and knows how to send specially blazing darts into those places of special vulnerability. This is why we need to remember who God is and never forget His voice never attacks our self-worth (see Romans 8:1).

In the name of transparency, this past week I came across a biblical text that triggered some painful memories for me. It was a text a former “friend” weaponized to attack my self-worth and my marriage.

This text was twisted in its application to put maximum pressure on an area of especial vulnerability in my life and identity. It was masterfully loosed to hit me right where I had already been “bloodied” and needed healing help.

Fortunately, the story did not end there with that vicious assault. The same evening this “friend” verbally and spiritually attacked God sent a prophetic individual into my life. He spoke truth, strength, and life into me reminding me that the attack on my worth was not the mind of God towards me.

Never forget: Satan might be active but God is always more powerful and has His servants as well!

I write this to encourage you. Maybe you are struggling this evening or day hearing words that someone spoke to you claiming they were from God? You know in your heart that they do not sound like the Good Shepherd’s voice, but you do not know what to do with the Scripture quotation they used. Remember:

Just because someone quotes Scriptures does not mean this person is speaking God’s mind for you in your situation!

If Jesus could and did reject someone’s counsel when he quoted the Bible, so can you. Quoting a Bible verse does not necessarily make it God’s intention for you; rather, such only comes when we wed the Bible verse with the heart of God towards us (revealed in the full counsel of Scripture and living relationship with God).