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Read Luke 4:1-13 every day this week. This is the account of the temptation of Jesus. Each day this week, if possible, choose a different translation and ask God to open your eyes to new revelation from His Word.
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Luke 4:5-8
“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 splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
I’m reminded of a story about a young lad at school who was bullied because he made friends with the so-called ‘intelligent boys’ – they were not popular and were constantly picked on. He decided that if he wanted to be popular, then he would have to join “the hard gang”.
He did this and the bullying instantly stopped. However, it meant that he neglected his school work and fell a long way behind. As a result, when he tried examinations, he failed them all. You see, popularity had a price and a bad reputation was acquired as an unwanted bonus.
We can gain a reputation for all sorts of reasons. Perhaps some of you have been told that you are not worth anything and because of where you come from, you will never amount to anything.
Even Jesus had a reputation like that. He was a carpenter’s son from Nazareth and in a conversation between Philip and Nathanael, he asked “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” There are times when we are put down because of who we are and where we are from.
Jesus was offered something in our reading today. In fact, He was literally offered the world. He was alone in the desert and had come from a ‘bad’ town with a reputation to match. Satan decided to offer Jesus what he thought He was missing! Jesus was not only content with what He had, but was absolutely secure in who He was. He didn’t need anything else – His Father was everything to Him and Jesus would worship only Him.
I want to tell you something about yourself and it is what God thinks about you: “rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him”. (1 Peter 2:4) And again in verse 9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”.
Satan wants you to believe that you are nothing and if you listen to him, he will give you all you desire. Nothing is further from the truth. True contentment, purpose and direction are found only when we make God first in our lives. Give everything to Him and trust Him. He won’t let you down.
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