Fri.’s Devo - The Third Temptation

Read Luke 4:8-11 For the third temptation, Satan took Jesus to a high mountain from where he could see all the known kingdoms of the world. He promised to give them to him if he would bow down and worship him. Now we know the devil’s heart. First of all, the kingdoms of the earth are not his to give away. They are God’s. (2 Kings 19:15) So he has no authority to say that, but then he is the Father of Lies. He was willing to give up the kingdoms of the earth, if only Jesus would fall down and worship him. If Satan could get Jesus to worship him, there would be no cross and there would be no atonement for sin. Even if it was in Satan’s power to give him the kingdoms of the earth, he would never have done it because he is a liar. But he would have caused Jesus to sin by worshipping him, thus forfeit being the spotless lamb who could take away the sins of the earth. Once again, Satan was tempting Jesus to take the shortcut and get his inheritance now. Jesus didn’t buy it and told Satan to leave. He told him that the Word says that “thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” All three of these temptations had to do with power which would bring notoriety and esteem. Jesus chose to be the suffering servant of Is. 53 instead. He came humbled the first time to be fit to come back the second time in power and glory. That is the way it is with us. If we can succumb to being humbled and let it work character in us, then God will exalt us in due time. When Jesus told the devil to leave, he did. Then angels came and ministered to him. When we win a great victory, God’s angels come and minister to us also. Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.