Monday, January 4, 2010

Day 4 Temptations Matt 4:1-22

What are we hungry for? Meaning, what will be used to tempt you.
That is why "contentment with godliness is great gain'!

The devil tried to get Jesus focus on himself and his needs, Jesus was fasting and he was hungry The devil challenges Jesus to "majic" up some bread based on his relationship with the Father.
Jesus's reply focused on the needs of the people not on his need of food.'People do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'

v5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
The devil takes Jesus to Church! Now that is not what we would expect.The devil quotes scripture at Jesus and wants him to test it. see Psalm 91:11,12
Again Jesus will not be cornered into thinking about himself and looks to the character of God."Do not put the Lord your God to the test". Isn't it interesting that Jesus tells Satan that the Lord is still his God. The devil remains subject to God whether he likes it or not.

v8 "The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor" Jesus was going to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, was the devil showing Jesus a shortcut, a way to side step the cross?
Jesus reply was "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

The devil gets us to focus on ourselves, demand what God can or should do for us because scripture says so, and provides a means to side step the will of God in our lives.

Jesus ends the conversation with "Away from me, Satan!

We also are instructed to "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you". James 4:7

Have a great day

We can also expect that the devil will leave you and then heaven's resources come to your aid.

1 comment:

  1. Your reminder that Satan is subject to God whether he likes it or not is good. Many Christians are fooled into thinking Satan is an equal adversary to God. How wrong they are. We can rejoice that Satan is only a created being.

    Though more powerful that humans, God is so much greater that there can be no true comparison.

    Shirley Fay

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