MARCH 18, 2015
Dangerous
Shortcuts
[Jesus
said,] “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from
the mouth of God.” —Matthew 4:4
Read:
Matthew
4:1-10
During recent
elections in my country, one struggling mom I know exchanged her vote for a bag
of diapers. We had discussed the benefits of each candidate, so her choice
disappointed me. “But what about your convictions?” I asked. She remained
silent. Six months after her candidate won, taxes went even higher. Everything
is now more expensive than before . . . even diapers!
In countries around the world, political corruption is not new.
Spiritual corruption is not new either. Satan tried to lure Jesus into “selling”
His convictions (Matt. 4:1-10). The tempter came to Him when He was tired and
hungry. He offered Him immediate satisfaction, fresh bread in seconds, a
miraculous delivery, the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
But Jesus knew better. He knew that shortcuts were dangerous
enemies. They may offer a road free from suffering, but in the end the pain
they carry is much worse than anything we can imagine. “It is written,” Jesus
said three times during His temptation (vv.4,7,10). He held firm to what He
knew was true from God and His Word.
When we are tempted, God can help us too. We can depend on Him
and the truth of His Word to help us avoid dangerous shortcuts.
Help me not to take shortcuts to satisfaction, Lord. Help me to
run to You and Your Word for the strength to fight the enemy. I’m confident
that You will be there to help me.
God’s road is not easy, but it leads to
eternal satisfaction.
INSIGHT: One of the most compelling elements of the
temptations of Jesus is found in Matthew 4:1, where we read that it was the
Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested. This surprising action
of the Spirit immediately follows the baptism of Jesus where the Spirit
descended upon Him, indicating the Father’s endorsement of the Son (Matt.
3:16-17).
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012