Week 3
It’s a hard decision to make. Will I do life my way or God’s way? Most of the time, our way
seems so much better. Jesus had to make the same decision about his life and ministry – my way
or God’s way. Even before he started his ministry, he decided to get very clear about this. As the
Bible tells us, he went out into the wilderness for 40 days to fast and pray about his life and his
ministry. He went into the wilderness to be alone, but he was not alone. The devil, or Satan, was
there with him as well.
Satan comes along and says in effect, if you really are the Son of God, you can have all of the power, wealth, and prestige you could ever want. Jesus, you could have such power if you simply turn stone into bread. Imagine how many people would follow you and do what you ask them to do if you would give them bread and supply their every need. Or Jesus, you could have unlimited wealth. I have access to all the kingdoms of the earth, and I can give you whatever material possessions you could ever want. Just bow down and worship me. Or Jesus, think of the prestige you would have if you throw yourself off the top of the temple and have God’s angels come and catch you. What a spectacle that would be. People would see that and fall down and worship you.
Power, wealth, and prestige are not bad things in themselves. In fact, they are good gifts from God. Yet, any good gift from God can be used for evil or selfish purposes. Jesus had to choose whether to use his gifting to glorify God and help others or to glorify and help himself. He was being tempted to use his gifts to build his own kingdom instead of building God’s kingdom. This was Jesus’ answer in each temptation.
Satan comes along and says in effect, if you really are the Son of God, you can have all of the power, wealth, and prestige you could ever want. Jesus, you could have such power if you simply turn stone into bread. Imagine how many people would follow you and do what you ask them to do if you would give them bread and supply their every need. Or Jesus, you could have unlimited wealth. I have access to all the kingdoms of the earth, and I can give you whatever material possessions you could ever want. Just bow down and worship me. Or Jesus, think of the prestige you would have if you throw yourself off the top of the temple and have God’s angels come and catch you. What a spectacle that would be. People would see that and fall down and worship you.
Power, wealth, and prestige are not bad things in themselves. In fact, they are good gifts from God. Yet, any good gift from God can be used for evil or selfish purposes. Jesus had to choose whether to use his gifting to glorify God and help others or to glorify and help himself. He was being tempted to use his gifts to build his own kingdom instead of building God’s kingdom. This was Jesus’ answer in each temptation.
Luke 4:1-13 (NIV)
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
In each temptation, Jesus chose to focus on God instead of himself. Jesus wanted to build God’s
kingdom instead of his own. Also notice that last verse. Satan was not done here. He would
come back to tempt Jesus again, just as he does to us as well.
Living in the Father’s house does not mean we will be free of temptations. Daily, we are tempted to build our own kingdom instead of God’s kingdom. Power, wealth and prestige are good gifts from God. As we go into the world today, how will we choose to use these good gifts?
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.
Living in the Father’s house does not mean we will be free of temptations. Daily, we are tempted to build our own kingdom instead of God’s kingdom. Power, wealth and prestige are good gifts from God. As we go into the world today, how will we choose to use these good gifts?
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.