Puuuuuush!” Luke said.

We’re in the book of Luke, and I love how it begins—with the birth of two boys. First, their births are announced by angels, then they’re forced (pun intended) into this world by their angelic mothers. 😄 "Puuuuuush!" Luke said. 😂

Ghafla bin vu, they’re both in their 30s as we get to chapters 3 and 4. The key phrase that covers all those missing years is simply, “and the child grew…”

Today as I was reading, something profound stood out to me about my own walk of faith—and maybe yours too. It’s about baptism and what follows after.

In Luke 3:22 we read:

> “...the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘YOU ARE MY SON, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’”

Take note of the words “You are my Son.” Those words must have been heavy and heartfelt. Sounds like “Come here, boy,” or “That’s my son,” followed by a warm hug from Dad. No boy on earth can resist the warmth of such words from a loving father. Maemotions, mafeelings, machoz tu🥹, and maenjoyment rohoni. No words from the boy(he was 30 though). He just enjoyed the moment.

Then, only a few days later, we read this in Luke 4:3:

> “The devil said to Him, ‘IF YOU ARE the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’”

Notice the shifts. We move from hearing from God to hearing from the devil. From the waters to the wilderness. From “You are my Son” to “If you are the Son.” But here’s the best part: we move from silence to a response.

When the Father spoke, the Son was silent—He simply received the love and affirmation. But when the devil spoke, there was need for a response, and an immediate one at that. It reminds me of Solomon’s wisdom: “Before God, let your words be few.” And now I add: “But before the devil, state your case, stand your ground, and shout Jeeeeesus!” In case kiumane—He’s your advocate, and He will defend you.

Now, where does baptism come in? Let’s look closer. Zoom in msee. Take note of the devil’s choice of words. They go a long way to show that he was present during the baptism. He heard that voice from heaven. Maybe he wasn’t physically at the Jordan, but he was tuned in from the heavenly courts, watching the proceedings. He heard what the Father said, and he came to roam the earth with a target and a tactic: to plant seeds of doubt in the heart of the one whom God had declared His Son.

It’s a sobering reality—that even in your best moments with God, the enemy may be taking notes. Every move of God in your life stirs a reaction in the enemy’s camp. Every whisper of love from God in your heart becomes a thunder in the devil’s ears, and he’ll twist it to create doubt.

“Did God really say…” — those were his first words to mankind, and he still uses the same tired trick today.

Did He really call you his son or Hassan? 😅

Did He really heal you—or was it just the drugs?

Did He really provide—or was it your salary?

Did He really send you—or should you just go back?

Whatever the devil says to you on your journey of faith, what matters most is your response —and it better begin with the words, “It is written.”

Let’s keep reading. God is in all this.