Who Do I Worship?
Scripture – Luke 4:5-8: 5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
Reflection: This is one of the strongest and most subtle temptations in Satan’s tool bag. “Worship” is a powerful word – a powerful experience.
What does it mean to worship someone or something? In part if means I bow before it. I offer my allegiance to it. I let it be the driving focus in my life.
The lie of the devil is, if I take my worship anyplace but Christ, I’ll gain great rewards in this life. Or sometimes it’s phrased in the opposite – if I follow Christ, I’ll have to give up all the good things in life. Either way, it’s a claim Satan cannot keep.
How do you experience this temptation? How do you respond? What’s the controlling influence at the center of your life? What adjustments do you need to make today?
An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.
Reading for Sunday, January 18
Scripture – Luke 4:9-13: 9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Reflection: This is one of the strongest and most subtle temptations in Satan’s tool bag. “Worship” is a powerful word – a powerful experience.
What does it mean to worship someone or something? In part if means I bow before it. I offer my allegiance to it. I let it be the driving focus in my life.
The lie of the devil is, if I take my worship anyplace but Christ, I’ll gain great rewards in this life. Or sometimes it’s phrased in the opposite – if I follow Christ, I’ll have to give up all the good things in life. Either way, it’s a claim Satan cannot keep.
How do you experience this temptation? How do you respond? What’s the controlling influence at the center of your life? What adjustments do you need to make today?
An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.
Reading for Sunday, January 18
Scripture – Luke 4:9-13: 9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
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