Why Reach For What You Already Have?

It’s a common thing with the enemy of our soul, He plays us for stupid. Sadly, too many of us fall for his game. What always amazed me about the audacity of the evil one was his attempt to tempt Jesus:

⁵ The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ If you worship me, it will all be yours. Luke 4:4-7 (NLT)

In this passage, Jesus had been in the wilderness for forty days, fasting. He was tired, weak, and no doubt very weary. This is the kind of state of mind that satan works best. However, when he approached Jesus in this final round of testing, he told him he would give him all the splendor and authority of the land that he showed him. What was so ridiculous was that Jesus was already Lord of all! Yes, He had a journey to walk, a purpose to fulfill, yet He was the One who helped to shape the world and everything in it. It all belonged to Him!

The enemy does us the same way. That which God has already appropriated for us, He comes to try and make us believe we somehow have to give homage to him in order to receive it. That promotion – that can only come with compromise; that relationship which will mean sacrificing principles; that car, which will stretch you beyond your ability to pay; that grade you want to get, but feel you can only get it by cheating.

These are just a few of the ways that the temptor comes to take us outside of our privileged position and put us on his territory. Yet the truth is, when we maintain our stand, we are in fact in a privileged position whereby all that you need and could even desire is within your grasp – given freely by your Father.:

³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

Selah, Pause and Think About That

Maria