Life Improves As I Practice Self-control (2)
Tuesday July 5, 2016
Everyone wants a happy life. In the past some of us tried to achieve a good life by taking what seem to be faster or easier shortcuts. Unfortunately, the shortcuts proved less than desirable, and we found ourselves in chaotic places we would rather have avoided.
In the Bible, we find the story of Esau who traded his rightful blessings as a firstborn son for a bowl of stew to fill his empty stomach. At the time, his primary concern was to satisfy his immediate physical need, with no thought at all for his future. He had not learned how to say no to self-indulgence.
Jesus faced a similar type of temptation. The plan of God was that Jesus would come to earth as a man, live a sinless life, experience the penalty for the sin of all humans, which was death, rise victorious over death, and then return to heaven to prepare a place for those who would believe in His saving work. It was a great plan for mankind but a tough journey for Jesus to attain it. Satan offered Jesus a shortcut to become King over all the earth. If Jesus had yielded to this temptation, He would have obeyed Satan rather than God and we would all be captive in our sins, eternally separated from God. Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, "You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” (Matthew 4:8-10 NLT)
We need to be aware of “shortcuts” that take us even one step outside of God’s will. We are warned: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NLT). Jesus is the only true way forward. If we submit ourselves to Jesus, we will enter into real life, eternal life. As we stay on the path, taking one step at a time, we’ll find the good things God has prepared for us.
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