August 9 Right Sight

Luke 4:5-8 The devil led him up to a high place and showed Jesus in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And Satan said to Jesus, “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. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
 
WE have many temptations, don’t we? Perhaps one of the most consistent is a desire to rule. Whether it be to rule over our own lives, in our family, on the playground, in a workplace, at church and other relationships, our first focus can often be, “How do I get what I want?”
    Satan is essentially attacking this element of Jesus’ humanity. Satan knows of mankind’s prideful intent to rule. He knew how Adam and Eve had been discontented with even the extraordinary authority God had given them to rule over the earth: Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  Somehow that wasn’t enough! They succumbed to the devil’s temptation. Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Of course, being “like God”, would enable them to rule as they desire, wouldn’t it? In their self-rule they could even eat from that forbidden tree. Sadly, their “I” focused minds subjected them only to sin’s slavery and death.
    Ruling equates with authority. Authority is control. Control is having things the way one wants them. Seeing the world through “I” narrows and darkens our vision of God’s rule over our lives. The “I” view leads us to negate God’s Word and elevate our desires.
    Jesus was tempted with the immediate rule of all the kingdoms of the world. But with his “I” fixed on the Father, Jesus kept his purpose in focus. Jesus’ worship of the Father remained steadfast to fulfill the Father’s written words, Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them.” This is the way of truth. Truth is the pathway to Jesus’ rule over your life to judge and to save.
    Keep your “I” on God. See your sin. See his eternal promises. See his love. See his Son. See the cross. See his salvation. See Jesus obey the Word of God. See the Father, Son and Spirit worthy of all your worship.
 
Prayer: Holy God in Heaven, keep me focused steadfastly and forever on you. In Jesus’ name, amen.