Matthew 4:8-11
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Look back over the first two temptations of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-7) and then read Matthew 4:8-11 slowly and thoughtfully.
In a final attempt to lure Jesus away from his rock-solid faith in God the Father, the Tempter offers Jesus a way to be exalted by the people of the earth without enduring the suffering that lies before him. All he has to do is turn away from God.
This temptation for the acquisition of power outside the will and way of God is as old as the garden. It’s part of what got broken when the first humans rebelled against God’s shalom rule, and it continues to be a destructive force that shapes the world today. The very essence of sin is the attempt to rule or control one’s own life apart from God.
Take a moment to reflect on your own desire for power and control over your life. Are there any circumstances that you need to hand over to God? Ask Jesus to speak to you about this.
Read Matthew 4:8-11 again slowly noticing anything new that stands out to you.
The tempter offers Jesus a shortcut to both power and glory if Jesus will turn from God and acknowledge Satan as a ruler worthy of his worship. Jesus can take the easy way out and take back that which he laid aside to identify with humanity and that which God has promised to return to him on the other side of his sacrifice.
Power isn’t bad in and of itself. As we saw earlier, God instructed people to “take dominion” over nature, but human power is meant to be yielded to God and used for God’s purposes in the world. Even with all the power in the universe available to him, Jesus remains fully surrendered to God’ will, God’s way, and God’s time.
Worship of God is more than a vocal expression, true worship is yielding one’s whole life to God.
For the last few minutes of this meditation, express your gratitude and worship to Jesus. Consider thanking him for facing down temptation and succeeding where all others failed.
If at any point you sense Jesus calling you to yield a part of your life to him, write this down and plan to take a step in that direction.
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