Choosing Between God and the Devil

DAILY READING

Matthew 4:8-10: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

FIELD NOTES

A man once said, “Pastor, I hear all this talk about the devil, but I’ve never run into one.” The pastor replied, “Of course, you haven’t run into one. It’s hard to walk into someone when you are walking side by side, going the same way.”

“Compromise.” “Try it just this one time.” “Everyone else is doing it.” “Who’s going to know?” “Who’s going to find out?” These statements can lure people into walking side-by-side with the tempter.

The tempter showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offered Jesus these kingdoms if Jesus would only worship the tempter. The tempter made a big mistake. These kingdoms of the world were not his to give. Jesus was with God at creation, and as the hymn goes, “This is our Father’s world!” 

Thus, Jesus responds by quoting scripture. We worship God and only serve God. 

I may be aware of temptations when I focus on serving Christ, but God is far greater than the tempter. It behooves us to follow God. God won’t trick us, and that is exactly what the tempter means to do.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• Describe a time when you followed God’s guidance instead of surrendering to temptation.
• Describe a time when you gave into temptation. How did you feel?
• What do you feel God is nudging you to do, and where do you feel the temptation to go against God’s will? How does it feel?
• What are you going to do today to follow God while resisting temptation?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Describe a time when you could not resist the temptation to do something you know you shouldn’t do (sneak a cookie, piece of cake, candy, or something else).
• Describe a time in which you didn’t give in to temptation. How did it make you feel to resist the temptation?
• How can we help each other do what God wants us to do with our family, school, workplace, or somewhere else and resist the temptation (going against) what God wants?

PRAYER GUIDE

Dear loving, gracious God, thank you for all of the many blessings you give us. Thank you for guiding us in avoiding temptations to do wrong, taking the easy way, not acting on sinful things we see, and pretending not to notice. In your gracious name, I ask. Amen!