When you are tempted to take matters into your own hands, remember the Lord’s guidance.
From Isaiah 30:15: “For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
From Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.'”
Coveting greed, money, power
Like Judas, actions tasting sour
God’s teachings, pushing them aside
Sowing seeds, giving up control
Loving money above all else
Trading Christ, reaping sin’s bankroll
Souls filling with love of money
Lusting for power, endless greed
Selling even our Savior Jesus
Cashing evil’s footprints, each deed
Life’s journey ending in ruins
Betraying Christ for power’s game
Walking with our selfish Judas
Missing out on Salvation’s claim
Lovers of ourselves, over Christ
Following evil’s empty voice
Draining life’s grace-empty wallets
Realizing now, God offers choice
Born into this world, with nothing
Taking nothing from planet earth
Living within self, contentment
Walking with Jesus, our rebirth
From 1 Timothy 6:9-10: “But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”
Lurking nearby
Obeying God’s commandments
Filled with His righteousness
Vanquished
Our fears
Life’s every trouble
Praise the Lord’s goodness
Deliverance
From God
Through His Son
Defeating sin and death
Salvation
Our Lord Jesus
Following baptism at the Jordan River
Led by the Spirit, His Holy Caregiver
Traveling into the barren wilderness darkness
Facing the enemy’s temptation, its starkness
Fasting and praying over forty long days and nights
Comforted and encouraged by His Father’s might
Famished with hunger
Cunning enemy of darkness makes his empty sales pitch
Tempted to turn stone into bread, Jesus will never switch
Jesus answers:
“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”
Taken to the Holy City
From the top of temple’s highest pinnacle
Desperate enemy becomes ever cynical
Tempted to plunge Himself down to the ground
Mocking Jesus, God’s angels should be around
Jesus responds:
“Again it is written, Do not put the Lord your God to the test”
Arriving at the highest summit
Viewing below, this kingdom’s richness and vastness
No one can ever remain faithful with steadfastness
Come, worship the enemy’s empty, deceitful shrine
Tempted to accept this false kingdom, never Mine
Jesus refutes:
“Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him”
We, ourselves, facing similar darkest temptations
Jesus stood firm, through God’s sound foundation
We are blessed with much the same encouragement
Read, study, follow the Bible without discouragement
Accepting and following Jesus, our Holy Savior and Lord
Through Salvation to Eternal Life, choose God’s accord
The Scripture verses come from Matthew 4:4, 4:7, and 4:10.
Photo by Gratisography on Pexels.com
It is easier to stay out of temptation than to get out of it.
From 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”
Big Sky Buckeye 