Transformational Tip
In this Lenten season, yesterday, we looked at Jesus being tempted during His time of fasting in the desert. The second temptation consisted of Satan promising Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would worship him.
Both Jesus and his tempter knew that Jesus would eventually gain these kingdoms anyway. So Satan was tempting Jesus to take something that is rightfully His, but by wrong means…give it to him sooner…to avoid pain and suffering…to avoid the cross. And in the process, Jesus would have to bow down and worship the devil…Call Satan lord of His life. Blowing off God’s timeline for Satan’s. Do you really believe Satan would have honored his part of the agreement anyway?
Once again, Jesus refused to give in to the temptation. And again, he quoted the Scriptures, revealing the root of the temptation by showing the right form of worship. His Father has the perfect agenda and timeline and is the only worthy one for us to worship.
We live in a time of instant gratification. Our fast-paced world and never-ending flow of instant responses via cell phones, Internet, etc. have molded us to want and expect instant gratification. We want it NOW, if not yesterday.
Sometimes we may know in our hearts that God has a plan to take care of a situation, but we don’t want to wait. We want the solution now. And so, instead of waiting for God’s plan to unfold, we manipulate and make it happen now. My will vs. Thy will.
And be very clear about this; in rejecting God’s plan, we are bowing down to Satan. Who do you want to bow to?
Today, let us learn from the example Jesus has set for us. Let us choose God’s way, God’s timing—always the best way and the best timing. Learn patience and perseverance, it comes from trusting God’s love for and provision for you is better than what our feeble minds and plans can come up with. Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your perspective on who you bow to.
Prayer
Dear Father God, I bow to You Father. All glory to You my Lord. Forgive me for the times I have not been willing to wait and do things the right way…Your way, but have taken a shortcut. Help me be willing to wait. Teach me to trust you more and to choose your way and your timing, I know Your timing is the perfect timing. I pray this in the name of the One who teaches us how to worship You, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 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. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
Luke 4:5-8
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.
He said, “Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!”
Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.
Daniel 3:17,18,25,28