DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: NOVEMBER 19 LESSONS FROM JESUS’ TEMPTATION (1) SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 4: 1-11; JOHN 12: 31; 14: 30
The temptation of Jesus, as will soon be discovered, contains great lessons for Christians. Dissecting these lessons in full details might cover volumes of books. The devotional will just scratched off few points for basic understanding. It is important to know first, that the temptation did not come to Jesus unaware. As a Son of God Jesus, was spiritually aware that the tempter would be coming. This attests to the fact that if we are always moving with the Spirit of God, nothing from the pit of hell will take us unaware. We Christians must watch out for the favourable circumstances that the devil will come to test us. Most often, our tempters come when we are emotionally or physically spent, when we are weary, vulnerable, and least prepared to resist insidious suggestions of Satan. For Jesus, Satan came when Jesus was very hungry craving for foods. The tempters can easily influence us when we become crazily hungry for anything, not just foods.
In suggesting to Jesus to jump down from the high pinnacle so that the angels of God will give Him soft landing was meant to lure Jesus into using His divine powers for personal and physical gratifications. Surely Jesus would have commanded the respect of many if He had jumped down from such a dizzy height landing safely without injury. What a spectacular show of power. Today, many would have accepted this suggestion from Satan. Many are out there exhibiting extraordinary power over natures. Many have accepted invitations from the spirit world to acquire powers for astounding exploits which would bring crowds into their ministry. But here, Jesus refused because He did not come to show off as a most superior being.
There is need to know that nothing could have been wrong for Jesus, to worship Satan in other to be given the entire world and all that are in the world. Some God’s servants of our time would not have cared. This could be tagged as “great breakthrough.” Here was Jesus standing with Satan who told Him that the wealth, splendours and the glory of the world are his. He would give all to Jesus if only Jesus worshipped him. Jesus knew Satan was correct by saying he owned all that are in the world. Jesus called Satan, the ruler of the world (John 12: 31; 14: 30). But Jesus would not accept trading in His Position as God’s Son by worshipping Satan. How many God’s servants have lost all by agreeing to get rich and wealthy anyhow on the earth? Jesus refused because He knew that there is nothing a man can give for the exchange of his or her soul (Mark 8: 36 – 37). We can compromise to worship idols so to be rich and wealthy, but nothing acquired in this world can save our souls. As Christians, we have to refuse any gift that will stop us from making heaven.
PRAYER:
LORD JESUS, all I want in life is to deliver the assignments God gave me for the world with all righteousness. Permit me not to yield my desires to earthly wealth and position that will form evidences of judgment upon me. Amen!!
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