WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3
Scripture: Luke 4:5-7

Luke 4:5-7 records the second temptation of Christ and it says, “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”’” It is interesting that the Greek word translated “worship” in verse 7 is pros-koo-neh-o which means ‘to bow the knee and lick the hand as a puppy receiving its food from its master.’ The temptation was that satan would give Jesus everything the earth had if Jesus would worship him. It was a money test or mammon test and it revealed foundationally that satan uses the love of money like God uses the Holy Spirit. He is driven to gain worship and he will offer everything that Adam forfeited if he can get it. Jesus, however, has overcome him and we have a covenant of divine provision. Jesus overcame this temptation and He gives us the authority to overcome the temptations that come at us. It takes faith to walk with God and trust Him for the full measure of our provision in the last days so that we do not step over the line into giving satan worship. That is something we cannot afford and walking in faith is the only way to victoriously walk it.