DAY 10 : Pursuing Promises or the GOD of Promise?
“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.'"
- Matthew 4:8-10 (NIV)
Often, before the answers to our prayers or before God's provision is about to come, the enemy will try to bring a counterfeit answer to our door. This could come in the form of much-needed help, financial provision, or an answer that could immediately solve our problems or open doors of opportunity for us.
The problem is, the enemy will often tempt us to compromise or settle for less than the fullness of what God has truly promised us. He will offer a way to obtain the end-results of what God has promised, without God's process of getting there. If we choose another way apart from His way, we can end up bowing the knee to the enemy, the world or the flesh, rather than yielding and submitting to our Lord!
When the devil came to tempt Jesus, he offered Him a way to obtain the kingdoms of this world apart from the cross! It was the temptation to receive the reward, while bypassing the process of pain, sacrifice and death to self.
The enemy will attempt to offer us a shortcut or another way, because "God's ways are too hard" or they require too much faith, sacrifice or surrender. Maybe the cost appears to be too great, or the answer seems to be taking too long. It may seem like nothing is happening, or that God has forgotten us in the process of waiting and believing (Ex: Joseph waiting in prison, David wandering in the wilderness).
Like Abraham, we can begin to wonder, "Was I supposed to do something? Is God waiting for me to act?" If we give into this temptation, we can act in the flesh and give birth to an Ishmael in our lives or callings. The problem is that whatever is birthed in the flesh will always oppose (and war against) that which is birthed by the Holy Spirit! (Gal. 4:28-29)
Are we pursuing promises, open doors, opportunities, success, or even revival - or are we pursuing God - as our highest pursuit? Do we see God as a means to an end, or do we see God as the end? Are His promises our end-goal, or is HE our greatest treasure and our greatest reward?
SEEKING IN PRAYER:
Take a moment to bring your heart before the Lord, praying through these questions & reflections.
1. Have I subtly replaced my pursuit of God (in prayer, worship & the Word) with a pursuit of my own dreams, desires, goals, influence, open doors, opportunities or appointments with others? (Do not weigh this by the value you place on these in your mind, but by the time and priority you actually give towards these pursuits)
2. Have I neglected to keep the First Great Commandment in first place, in my life? Has the Second Great Commandment or the Great Commission taken the place of my relationship with God? Has busyness, activity or even ministry replaced my First Love for Jesus?
3. Is the presence of God truly the highest pursuit of my life? Am I viewing God as the END GOAL of my every desire and pursuit, or am I subtly using God as a MEANS to another end?
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