“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.” ~Matthew 4:8-9
I love that song by Jeremy Camp and the lyrics paint a very clear picture of the ultimate power, the POWER OF GOD! So far this Lenten journey we have talked and read about “The Wilderness” and “Mortality, A Liminal Space, Hunger, Divine Testing and this week Power.” The pamphlet I’m using closely relates these subjects to Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by the devil as well as mirroring our journey through Lent. As we continue on our journey of meditating on the things that Jesus endured during His forty days in the wilderness and we reflect upon our own lives as believers in Jesus Christ during our forty days. Today’s verse is one we looked at during the week of “The Wilderness and Hunger” and again in “The Wilderness and Divine Testing.” The author gives us a personal point a view today describing her feelings towards the devil as he attempts to tempt Jesus, offering to give Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, if Jesus will bow down and worship him.” She says that when she reads Matthew 4:8-9, she “immediately feels righteous indignation.” As the devil has no authority to give kingdoms of the world and glory to anyone.” Everything that was made is from God, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” ~John 1:3. In fact, the devil forgets that he exists because God created him. The devil is a fallen angel. *For additional resources for the devil click the link under “References” below.
The word “power” holds a plethora of visual images when we think of earthly power; we have the power of the pen in journalism, we have men and women that are power-hungry, even abusive with power, civilizations have been eradicated because of too much power, as well as governmental and states powers. Power in and of itself is neither good or bad, it is the motivation and character of the individuals with power that causes the arm of justice to swing too heavily in one direction.
Life can be confusing and debilitating especially when we listen and take our instructions from the “world” and not from God. This happens when we allow ourselves to conform to this world and not to the Will of God. Just like the Israelites, we fail to follow God’s rules and commandments. We often think we can handle things without God. None of the powers in the world compare to the Power of God. In 2 Peter 1:3, Peter writes this “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.”
Who are you listening to; the world or God?
Breath Prayer: Jesus, all Power and Glory are yours alone. ~Amen
~Blessings and Peace~
References:
https://www.biblegateway.com
For Bible verses about power click this link: https://www.openbible.info/topics/power
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pinterest.com/amp/explore/jesus-art/
http://davidwilliamsviolinist.info/the-lords-prayer/
POWER (Merriman-Webster)
noun, often attributive pow’er \ˈpau̇(-ə)r\
often attributive
1a (1) : ability to act or produce an effect (2) : ability to get extra-basehits (3) : capacity for being actedupon or undergoing an effect
b : legal or official authority, capacity, or right
2a : possession of control, authority, or influence over others
b : one having such power; specifically : a sovereign state
c : a controlling group :establishment — often used in the phrase the powers that be
d archaic : a force of armed men
e chiefly dialectal : a large numberor quantity
3a : physical might
b : mental or moral efficacy
c : political control or influence
HOPE SEEKER 
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