Thursday November 15, 2016

 

Evan as followers of Jesus, we have all struggled with overcoming our temptations on a consistent basis. For us to consistently overcome our temptations, we need to first understand how they work. All temptations are fueled by a deceit (lie) that promises to fulfill our desires. However, the promise (lie) leads us to disobey God. Overcoming our temptations is not as difficult as you may think, but it does require some work. First, we must identify the lie that fuels the temptation then we must replace it with a specific and corresponding truth.

 

Matthew 4:8-9 NIV

 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

 

Just about every theologian interprets this temptation as the devil offering Jesus a shortcut. It is as if the devil were telling Jesus that the kingdoms were rightfully His but that He did not need to wait. All Jesus needed to do was take a shortcut.

 

The lie behind the temptation: If the shortcut leads me to the goal then I win.

In geography, shortcuts tend to be a good thing, but in life, they are not. There is no shortcut to a healthy lifestyle or to building a healthy family. There are no shortcuts in the important matters of life. Think of it this way; you need an attorney to represent you. Do you want one that took a shortcut to get his degree or do you want one that actually completed his education and passed the bar exam? The temptation, hidden in the devil’s lie, in the passage we just read is: if the shortcut leads me to the goal, I win.

 

Matthew 4:10 NIV

 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

 

The specific corresponding truth: nothing that I obtain by disobeying God can be good for me.

Jesus identified the lie behind the temptation and then replaced it with the specific corresponding truth. The truth is, you never have to break God’s laws to receive His blessings.