What God do you worship?

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Matthew 4:8-10

Devilish Promises

Satan offered the kingdoms of the world. Jesus never corrected him about it. Why? Satan has been given temporary power over the earth, but he is not all-powerful. When Jesus was offered the empty power grab from satan, Jesus said to get lost. When Jesus was on the hill of Golgotha, He was given the hearts of all men. God only desires the hearts of men. He doesn’t care about false power but internal governance.

Temptations bring false power. God brings liberty. Liberty frees the soul to live a life of joy. False power is always on the verge of collapse.

Rightful Giver

On Golgotha hill, Jesus was given the keys to Hell and death (Revelation 1:18), the inheritance to sit on the throne at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2), the power to judge (John 5:22-23), and the power to save and call us His own (Acts 4:1ff). When He stood on the high mountain, His Father gave Him the power.

The end goal was the same, but God took it a step further. When we rely on satan, giving him something that is only due to God, we make him God. When we become impatient and start to work out the timeline ourselves, when we try to hop out of the refining fire too early, we are not acknowledging the One in control. But by Jesus waiting for God’s timing, He gave authority to God alone.

Sometimes the outcomes are the same, but God has more in store IF we trust Him more than ourselves.

Jesus could’ve doubted the plan. He knew God wanted to give Him all the kingdoms of the world. It’s prophesied countless times in the Old Testament. The problem is that if Christ had gone with satan, He would’ve missed the pain of the cross and the JOY of our salvation.

Often, when we doubt God’s timeline and try to make it ourselves, we miss out on the refining process and the joy of bringing someone else to God through the testimony of our pain.

Wait on what God says and trust His character. It may not end how you envisioned it, but the pain He brings you through will help someone else draw closer to Him.

Will you wait on Him? or will you step in with your pride and do it your way?