SUNDAY - 21ST APRIL, 2024
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO
BEWARE OF DISTRACTION AND THE TEMPTATION WITH ALL THESE THINGS - The Essence & Value Of Life Series 005
Matthew 4:8-9, KJV
"8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."
Satan thinks someway. He believes every man has his price and he could be bought. If not, Satan wouldn't have told Jesus to bow down to him in exchange for, "all these things." He speaks assuredly when he says, "and all these things will I give you if you'll fall down and worship me." He's no longer different from a man who forces his will on a lady by making it a matter of conditional compulsion to her. "See, if you give me sex, (then he flashes some cash before her), I'll give you this money." That's seeking to take advantage of another's need and that's what the devil does to Jesus. Watch him. He comes around at the moment of your need, looseness and desperation.
Ahead of time in the course of this series, we saw the appearance of the phrase, "all these things" in Matthew 6:33. The Bible says, "but seek you first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Why does "all these things" keep appearing? Does it mean "all these things" is very important as well with its own usefulness that should be understood? Obviously yes! "All these things" includes riches, fame, power and everything possible that an average human being takes thought for. We care for food, raiment and even shelter. All the cheating, killing, embezzlement and injustice are to possess or manage all those three basic needs. Those three basic needs are therefore all part of "all these things." We want to be famous, being the rave of town, the one talked about in the media and yet the gossip of all people. That's also part of "all these things." "All these things" is very wide in its sense. When the tempter came to Jesus during this third temptation, he gave all diligence to show Jesus the kingdoms of the world and its glory thereof. If you say there's nothing in this world, you're probably joking. Many things, many good things, many jolly and beautiful things are in this world. The Bible says, "and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof...(Genesis 3:6, KJV). That's Eve falling for "all these things" but before she did, she saw that "all these things" was pleasant to the eyes. It brought to her a kind of mouth and mind watery pleasure merely gazing at it. You just want to crave after it and have it. So, "all these things" could be attractive and are. Only that a Christian should esteem them all as vanity through discipline, self control and the keeping of one's eyes on the prize or God's promises.
I John 2:16 - 17, KJV
"16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Delightful things which ranges from technology and invention, food, wine, sex etc form part of "all these things" too. The devil ensured he flashed all these before Jesus if these could get Him. He ensured he displayed the best of the best. He must have displayed the oil fields of the Arabs and the gold mine of Africa to Jesus. He wanted Him to covet them and fall for them. As such, he showed Him all in its details and rare description but with one demand, "if you'll fall down and worship me."
Why is the devil seeking worship like the kings of the world would lord it over others? He wants to substitute God. The devil from the onset has been seeking to act as a substitute to God. Wherever you see a false religion, idol worshipping etc, that is the devil at work receiving the worship of men meant for God. He keeps establishing himself as a counterfeit way or solution provider. So, he seeks having all that accrued to him. So far so good, the devil has been able to convert a lot of people to bowing down to him in worship and constant and counter service to God.
Ensure you do not pursue after all these things to the loss of your soul. It is still, "what shall a man profit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul" (Matt. 16:26).
Many people there be who are promised the rewards of riches, fame and power if they'll join a cult and serve the devil. They therefore forfeit their souls and freedom for, "all these things." If all these things of the world aren't pleasurable to the senses with promises of some satisfaction, they shouldn't have compromised. Neither should Eve have fallen also. God who created us didn't mean we wouldn't need "all these things". He only meant we shouldn't serve it, worry or become greedy after it (Matt.6:25-33). Rather, all these things were meant to serve and follow us after we might have given our lives to the pursuit of purpose and the essence of life first of all. The order is, "but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things (that the world is dying for) will be added unto you." You'll naturally attract it if you live to fulfill your passion, obsession, calling and purpose first of all. Mind that tail end expression, "all these things will BE ADDED UNTO YOU." You're almost not working for it! It will come or follow as a consequence of a purposeful living in pattern with God's kingdom and the spread of His righteousness where He has placed you to rule, dominate and cultivate.
So, never believe that God doesn't have plans for you to prosper. That'll contradict III John 2. He does as He who created, "all these things." He only wants us to be properly prospered by them. He wants us know their uses and not esteem them above Him or our personal calling that could bring about their attraction as a reward. If we get this, we'll see that God's thought towards us is of good and not of evil still. Know this and know peace.
PRAYER: Lord, I am weaned from the vain, greedy and hurtful pursuit of "all these things." I pursue my purpose and the essence of my living which is able to deliver to me, "all these things."
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 21:1-22:20, Luke 20:1-26, Psalm 89:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16
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