Who Will I Serve?
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”<o:p></o:p>
Luke 4:8<o:p></o:p>
Luke 4 tells us of Jesus beginning His ministry and how powerful and effective it was! He taught people with gracious words and authority. He exercised power over evil spirits, silencing and casting them out of people. He healed many and preached the Good News of the Kingdom. All of this came after His 40 days in the desert.<o:p></o:p>
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where, for all those days, He was temped by the devil. Satan used a legitimate need (hunger) to tempt Jesus to use His divine power selfishly. Satan also twisted the intent of Scripture in his attempts. It is the second temptation that Luke records here that seems most revealing about Satan. He has been given authority in this world and you can see his great influence in the kingdoms of the earth. This power over people isn’t what he wants though. Satan would give that all over to Jesus if Christ would do just one thing: worship him.<o:p></o:p>
Satan wants God’s glory. He rebelled against God over this and he wants to be worshipped. Many do worship him. Many do serve him. In response Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13, “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”<o:p></o:p>
When it comes to worship and His Glory, God does not share. The whole battle described for us in Revelation and the visions of Daniel 7 & 8 are over this. Who will have authority? Who will be worshipped?<o:p></o:p>
I need to be sure that I am serving Christ today. While I would never knowingly serve the devil, it is all to easy to fall into a close second of serving myself! If the enemy can lead me to serve myself, this is not serving God. “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”<o:p></o:p>
Father, thank You for the power of Your Word. I am encouraged to read Jesus’ submission to You and His powerful ministry. These two are clearly connected! They will be in my life too. I yield to You today and give You the honor that only You deserve. Use me for Your purposes this day. I am Yours…<o:p></o:p>
