Jonathan on 14 March 2005

Luke 4, Isaiah 7 & 8

Scripture

Deut 8:3 It takes more than bread to live.

Deut 6:14 Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve
him with absolute single heartedness.

Deut 6:16 Don't you dare tempt the Lord your God.

Isaiah 61:1
God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the message of good news to the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind.
To set the burdened and battered free,to announce, This is God's year to act!

Observation

The first three verses were Jesus' responses to the craftiness of the
Devil. Satan approached Him at a point of great need attacking Jesus'
hunger in his physical body, for human achievement and social acclaim.
Jesus responds pointedly with Scriptures from Deuteronomy. It just goes
to show how much the laws God sets for us aids us in breaking free of
the games we play. The Devil retreats to try again another day.

These are the same attacks face as men living in the 21st century.
Firstly, the world forces onto us a lifestyle of hedonism through the
stimulation of our senses and fulfillment of our appetites in almost
everything we do. The wealthy seek their more refined pleasures while
the poor enjoy day-to-day living; we all fight to survive.
Secondly, when our bodies are contented, we try instead to satisfy our
ambition by climbing some ladder, corporate, virtual, high-score or
otherwise. Finally we fight to belong and be accepted by our peers, our
families, our country and our church.
As Christians we get so caught up in this 'game' we even try to
recruit God on our team, not realising that he has his own plans and ideas. We
ought to be a part of his grand symphony for the world rather than
inviting him to play in our pathetic sand-box of an existence.

Application

I don't want to play these games. I want to be able to respond as
Jesus responds, accurately cutting through to the heart of the situation.
Indeed it is so true that God's word has the power to separate flesh
and marrow, soul and spirit and Jesus does so like a real Spirit-filled
image of the Creator God.

Prayer

God, don't let me play games with myself. Don't let me hurt myself
and never let me harm those around me for the sake of survival, society or
success. I want to live a dream, but not just any dream; your dream.
May I proclaim in all truth and honesty that indeed your spirit is upon
me, anointing me to speak the message of your Son and His kingdom to
the bankrupts and convicts around me. God, let this be your year to
act! Amen.