Wordless Wednesday: Don't Miss Out

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Worship God Only

Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.'" Matthew 4:10 NKJV

The devil was tempting Christ in the wilderness, and his final task was to show Jesus everything that belonged to him and that he would give to Jesus if he would bow down and worship him. Jesus replied in the negative.

Christ had been tempted with food, he was tempted to show his godship, and the devil wanted him to worship him. Jesus was having none of that. He stayed steadfast to his Father.

Sometimes it's hard to stay focused on serving and worshiping God, especially in the heat of the moment. But if we keep God first and recognize His will in all things, we won't be tempted to stray. The devil is still tempting people. Sometimes we act like Jesus, and other times we don't.

If you are on track, stay. If you stumble, get back on track.

What do you do when you are tempted?

Stay Encouraged and Be Blessed!

Don't Tempt God

Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" Matthew 4:7 NKJV

While Jesus was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, the devil had already asked him to convert stones to bread, and his reply was that man did not live by bread alone, but the word of God. The devil next asked Jesus to throw himself off the temple. In his estimation, the devil figured if he was the Son of God, angels would come to his rescue. He even used the scripture from Psalms 91 (verses 11 and 12) to back him up.

Jesus wasn't buying it. His response was to say "you shall not tempt the Lord your God." Plenty of people do it. "If God did this, then I would do that." Or other people mock, "if your God exists, then he will do this or that."

The people of Israel did this while they were in the wilderness. Moses was telling them about God's commandments when he said to not tempt God. And Jesus used this against the devil.

We need to refrain from tempting. Stop the ultimatums. Either do for God and His kingdom without the need for reward or walk away.

I hope you like the Sayings of Jesus series. This is the third post and just to reiterate what I said before, I am just giving a few thoughts on what Christ said in the Bible. Sometimes the post will be long and other times, it will be short. And sometimes what Christ says is tough to swallow, but the hope is that it will be enlightening.

 Stay Encouraged and Be Blessed!

What Do You Feed The Most?

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But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 

Matthew 4:4 NKJV

Jesus spoke this when he was being tempted by the devil during his 40-day fast in the wilderness. The devil had said if he was the Son of God, then turns those stones into bread.

My immediate thought turned to our daily digest of God's Word and how that helps strengthen our spirits. Some Christians spend very little time studying God's Word. Some spend the vast majority of their day immersed in God's Word. Those that spend a little time wonder why they are so easily tricked.

Don't get me wrong. All of us can be led astray, but the more time you spend studying God's Word the easier it will be to spot the tricks. The easier it will be to avoid the traps and the quicker it will be to get back on strong footing.

Christ points this out in Matthew 4:4. While food provides sustenance, that is just the physical. If you spend only a little time reading, studying, praying and worshiping God, you will not be prepared for the attacks. You must provide sustenance to your spirit, too.

How do you feed your spirit?

Stay Encouraged and Be Blessed!