Today’s reading: Exodus 27; John 6; Proverbs 3; Galatians 2
March 16th, 2016
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. – John 6:15
How would you react if a people wanted to make you a king? Would they have to force you?
Just as in the desert, Jesus here dismisses the lure power and status in this world as fake and not to be trusted. In the desert, the tempter showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory. His offer? If Jesus would worship him, he would give Jesus all the world had to offer. Let us be prudent and ensure we follow Jesus in his response.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. – Matthew 4:10
Worship is such an interesting topic to ponder and meditate on. I have come to believe that it is much more than singing God’s praises at church. I encourage you to consider that we are always worshiping. Do we not worship with our time and attention? Do we not worship with our thoughts and our hearts’ desires? Do we not worship with our money? If the answer is yes, the question then becomes; what are we worshiping? Are we engaging in the tempters value proposition? Are we taking him up on his offer of worshiping him for things of this world; worshiping false idols in return for illusions? A false idol can be anything that takes God’s place. As my good friend often says when it comes to worship, “God wants to be number one on a list of one.”
Pastor Phin Hall talks about some of the more common idols that we are tempted to put in God’s place. “Work offers to provide for us giving us purpose, value and status. Other people offer us intimacy and self-worth. Entertainment offers us escape from the stresses and worries of everyday life.” Yet, ask anyone who has put their trust in these promises and now knows the truth and they will tell you; these promises are empty. The true offer is full of real things. “[God] gives true purpose, value and status, real intimacy and self-worth, and frees us completely from the stresses and worries of everyday life.“
Pastor Phin encourages us all to ask ourselves these questions regularly:
- What do I long to do each day?
- What do I look forward to when I wake up in the morning?
- What would I rather do than spend time with God?