There is one most precious statement in the account that Luke gives of the Lord's temptation in the wilderness. It is this, "And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season." (Luke 4:13)
Christ was tempted for our sakes: "For in that He himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:18)
How can He succor us in our temptation? By putting His mind in us, as the Apostle Paul exhorts us to let Him do: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5) "Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." (1 Peter 4:1-2)
Whoever therefore is armed with the mind with which Christ resisted temptation, suffers with Him; and he conquers with Him also.
Satan will tempt us fiercely, but we have the comforting thought that when we resist with the mind of Christ, he will leave us for a season. He will in time return to the attack, hoping to find us off our guard; but for a time we may be left entirely alone with the Lord, to gather fresh strength for another struggle.
The devil will flee from us, when we resist him steadfastly in the faith: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5:8-9)
But Christ has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us: "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
With His abiding presence we need not fear the fiercest attack of the adversary. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)--Present Truth, January 4, 1894--Timeline: II-3 (The Temptation)--Luke 4:13.