Learning to say "go"
This week's verses are Matthew 4:8-11 : Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘ You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him .’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs. Temptation can often come in the guise of a harmless shortcut. We don't always think about it. In this week's verses, Jesus shows us that it pays to stand our ground. Satan starts by offering Jesus a shortcut to something that is already promised to him. We often don't see temptations for what they are because we convince ourselves they're the intended path. We innocently think "maybe this is how God planned to give me the thing I was promised." And we fall into a trap. Jesus responds to Satan ...