Remain Connected

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”  Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”  (Matthew 4:8-11)

All right, All right, the food card did not work nor did the Scripture test.  Now the enemy decides to try one more tactic; third time is a charm, right?  The enemy leads Jesus to a mountaintop with a killer view.  All kingdoms reveal beauty to the eye.  To own such land would bring glory to one’s pride.  To have authority over many kingdoms would raise the pedestal on which one stood.  Jesus could really get others to pay attention to Him and get to know Him if all had to answer to Him, right?

At what cost?  The enemy explained that Jesus would turn over His soul in order to own such property and earn prestige.  The enemy reminds me of Ursula in The Little Mermaid (one of my favs!).  Poor little Ariel desired legs.  She dreamed of walking the Earth and meeting people, especially the handsome man she saved.  The ‘grass seemed greener on the other side’ and Ariel succumbed to the pressures of Ursula.  She received legs at the cost of her voice.  The only connection for the handsome prince to recognize Ariel was her voice.  She gave away the one piece that kept a bond between her and the love of her life. 

How often do we succumb to pressures of this world?  At what cost?  The enemy comes in whatever form will entice us to let go of God’s hand.  We lose the only connection for God to know us.  The bond we hold to our Father breaks as our feet shift to the right of a straight path.  The ‘grass seems greener on a different path’.

Guess what, my friend; you have to mow that grass as well.  Each path holds its own trials and tribulations.  No amount of money, prestige, relationship, possession, etc. is worth losing the connection with God.  Without Him bound by our side, the path will destroy us.      

“Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.” (Deuteronomy 28:14)

 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

Ariel found it useless without a voice.  The prince did not recognize nor care to know her.  The path chosen at the cost of her voice appeared too hard to handle.  All came to a crashing halt and guess who came to rescue – her father.  Guess Who will come to rescue should life come crashing down – your Father. 

It may take some time to get back on the straight path.  Lessons will be learned along the way.  In the end, you will realize how glorious, peaceful and comforting to be walking the straight path.  God will lead to places beyond imagination.  He will use you in mighty ways.  Let Him rescue you today.  Come to Him and reconnect by falling at the cross.  Lay all the decisions down and worship only our Father.

Jesus got it right all three times and demanded that Satan move over and take these weak attempts elsewhere.  As he left, Jesus gained even more strength and closer bond with his Father.  We cannot serve two masters – serve only God.  Is anything in life pushing its way above your worship for God?  What competes with the attention given to God?  Give it up, readjust thoughts and demand Satan to get behind you.  Keep your connection.  His hand remains open at all times to come back. 

Keep praying harder than the devil can work.

Sheree Craig