Skip to main content

46. Tempted By Fame


Deuteronomy 6:16, Psalm 91, Matthew 4:5-7, Luke 4:9-12
Key Verse: Jesus answered: "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."
Deuteronomy 6:16, Matthew 4:7 & Luke 4:12

Is satan daring Jesus to prove Himself here?  It sure looks like it.  It would appear that satan finds it hard to believe that all powerful Jesus wouldn’t want to resist show off His power just a little.  Could this have been a vulnerability for Jesus?  Is this really a temptation to prove Himself?

It would appear here that Satan is offering Jesus a different entrance into ministry.  Jesus wouldn't have to mingle with the rabble.  He could show off for the teachers of the law, the rabbis and the Pharisees.  They would be impressed and he would have their allegiance no matter how the crowd would treat Him.  Instead of compassionate ministry, he could use his power to show off the way the Pharisees like to do, be one of them.  It looks like an easy way to gain acceptance from the people in power.  Truthfully, I think I might have taken it.

Again satan demonstrates that he knows scripture too, though he misuses it rather than uses it appropriately, as we mentioned two days ago.  "He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."  (Psalm 91:11-12)  Basically, satan is saying, "You're safe!  Go ahead, do something spectacular.  Show everyone how powerful you are.  Then, there will be no doubt that you are from God.  Nothing can happen to you."

Jesus, however, once again, had the bigger picture in view.  "Do not put the Lord, your God, to the test." (Deuteronomy 6:16) First of all, Jesus reminds satan that He, Jesus, is still satan's God.  Jesus is still in control, even if it doesn't appear to be so.  Besides, trusting God means that we do not put him in a position where he must prove that he is trustworthy.  Trusting God means that we don’t have to make Him prove it.

Secondly, Jesus doesn't need to prove anything.  He knows who He is and He knows what His responsibility is and showing off for the religious leaders is not part of the job description.  He did not come to win the approval of the religious.  He came to seek and to save that which is lost.  He came to redeem them and give them a hope and a future.  Mingling with the "rabble," is what He came to do; to touch them with God's love and to show compassion in a way that they would understand. 

Jesus shows us here how to resist the urge to prove ourselves.  When we stay focused on who we are in Him, then what the world thinks will not matter anymore.  We may be tempted, in our flesh, to prove to others that we can, but when we remember that we are a Child of God, and that He is our Father, and that we can do all things through Him, when He asks it of us, we can resist this temptation because it is not from God. 

Hymn: "I Love You and You Are Mine"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

174. Pleading for the Fig Tree

Proverbs 27:18 , Luke 13:6-9 Key Verse: He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 We have here three main characters: a master, who acquired the tree in hopes of eventually enjoying its fruit, a servant, who looks to the tree to reflect his care and attention, and lastly, the tree itself. The master has the right to expect his investment to pay off. The servant, who has obviously put much effort into the tree, would also like to see fruit. The servant's interest is not only to show his own talent in gardening, but because he wants to please his master. Both the servant and the master are dependent upon the tree to do what it was designed to do. Their little parable is an interesting way for Jesus to finish off His exhortation to, "repent or perish."  God is the Master. He had a purpose for you before you were even born. ( Jeremiah 1:5 & Psalm 139:16 ) He planted you on this earth to ful...
Post a Comment
Read more