Food for thought this week and to consider the wisdom and truth found within it. 

At the very beginning of His ministry here on earth, Christ Jesus himself, as a man, was carried off into the wilderness to be tested by Satan for 40 days and nights.  We know temptation to be true as we are constantly bombarded and surrounded by it in every waking moment of our lives. We can never get away from it.  Satan’s power is relentless and preys on every weakness known to man

Satan tempted Christ with the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, as found in 1 John 2:16 " For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father, but is from the world."  

After Jesus had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, Satan said to Jesus as found in Matthew 4:3  - if you are the Son of God command these stones to become loaves of bread.

Jesus Christ replied in Matthew 4:4  “ Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”   We need spiritual nourishment daily (as found only in Scripture) just as much as we need food for our physical nourishment.  (See Deuteronomy 8:3)

Satan then took Jesus to the top of a temple as found in (v5,6) and said "If your are the Son of God, throw yourself down and command your angels to catch you and on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone."  (emphasis mine)

Again spoken by Jesus, He replied  in Matthew 4:7  “ You shall not tempt the Lord your God”  (See Deuteronomy 6:16)

We come to understand that we are in no position to dare or demand that God protect or rescue us.  Nor are we in any position to ask God to prove anything to us by satisfying our every desire.  Our God does not bargain nor is He what we(you,I) want Him to be.  We must not forget that God is God and we are not.   

Satan then took Jesus to the top of a mountain (v 8,9) and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and said to Jesus; "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship Me."

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ replied in Matthew 4:10  “ You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”  (see Deuteronomy 5:1-21 & 6:13)

This is at the heart of all that God desires most from all of us:  Placing Him at the center and above everything in our lives. Not allowing the tempations of this world to consume you and blind you to the truth.  Worshiping and valuing anything in your life above God is idolatry. Money, power, status, sex, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers work, all our material possessions etc.. 

Where have you placed God in your life ?  or  Do you place or worship the ways and desires that this world offers ?

My friends, I have been there- done that- by living my entire life apart from God and following my own selfish, greedy ways of this world, until now.  Don’t allow this to happen to you.  Everything that you are, and everything that you have is based on the gifts that God has given you.  You are at this very moment where God has placed you. 

 Allow God into your life and enlighten your eyes to the riches of His Love, Truth and Peace. Only then, with God's help, can you begin to understand  the lies, and deception that keeps you a prisoner of your own making..  

Start today – Don’t delay and change your life - Let the words of God speak to you and be filled with a peace and joy beyond measure. 

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