Galatians 3:26 “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
I have gone through periods in my life when I look back now, and realise that I have been striving for other people’s acceptance. To show that “I can do” what I thought was needed for their approval. This left me exhausted, as I was compromising who I was actually created to be.
We can all be presented with an opportunity that makes us feel like we “have made it” (whatever that even means!) and we are promoted in some way, in life – whether that is with our career choice, financially etc. but then recently I have been re-reading the Gospel of Matthew; in particular Chapter 4. This is where Jesus is being tempted for 40 days / 40 nights, before being released into His God given calling.
I find it fascinating that the enemy presented Jesus (on the third attempt to derail His calling) with a very tempting offer that – in the natural – we might think twice about.
Can you imagine being shown “all the Kingdoms of this World and their splendour” (v8). Satan is very clever – He knows what can drive us. The first two attempts were to try and get Jesus to hurt himself but the last attempt was to simply appeal to our nature to succeed in this World.
How many of us have accepted the third offer in this life already? The enemy can’t stop anyone from taking the path God has chosen but he can certainly delay it with temptation.
We need to remember that “The LORD directs the steps of the godly.” (Psalm 37:23). Jesus knew that Satan’s offer was all he had to offer – this World. I love the scripture in 1 John 2:17 “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”
To me, this is a clear mandate. As a disciple of Christ…A child of God…as a Christian…that is our identity. This World can offer us many things but nothing can compare to eternal blessings.
Pray into the opportunities you have been given. I take a lot from this passage because something that seems great, doesn’t mean it’s from God and when we trust in who God is – know matter how tempting the offer, I would rather decline something in the natural to be promoted in the supernatural!
Categories: Encouragement
