When tempted

Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. ‘I will give you all this power and all this wealth,’ the Devil told him. ‘It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. All this will be yours, then, if you worship me.’

Jesus answered, ‘The scripture says, “Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!”’ (verses 5-8)

Read Luke 4:1-13

You are not alone if you have been tempted to go after power and wealth. A lot of people see it as the only wise and proper way to go. It promises so much, but it is a path filled with many traps that Satan uses to catch us. Have you ever heard him say, ‘You will have all this if you do it my way?’ And then, just as an aside, he presents you with the cost: ‘Of course, it will involve time away from your family, and it will require your full commitment. But think of the result. You will be rich!’

Jesus recognised Satan’s evil intent and the bargain that he was being drawn into. ‘No!’, a strong and final no was his reply. ‘God’s word says that the world can only be brought back to him via a cross.’ And he turned his eyes towards Jerusalem and placed his spirit into his Father’s hands.

Jesus, make me aware of the traps that Satan sets before me in my daily path, and give me the strength to say a firm no as I trust in your word and promises. Amen.

by Len Tscharke, in ‘God’s Peace for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2006)

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