Rebuke

by Jay Wilkinson (Elder)

Matthew 4: 8-11 NIV - 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.`
The devil left him and angels came and attended him.

Jesus, being the Son of God, and yet human like the rest of us didn’t reply to the devil with something like: “Wow mister devil, that’s a pretty good offer, let me think about it for a little while.” Instead, He did what someone who knows and has faith in the one true God would do. He rebuked him. He immediately told him to pack up and leave! And that was at the end of forty days of fasting in the desert when He was at his weakest.

Am I anywhere close to being that strong? I’m pretty sure I don’t want to hear the answer to that question. In my weakness do I find myself judging, envying, gossiping or listening to any of the lies that the enemy is trying to tell me? I think even the strongest of us has their weak moments. It’s in these moments that I want to find the strength of my Lord God. That I can look the devil right in the eye and “rebuke” him. That I would say: “Back off Satan and get away from me” with all the authority that God has given me! And the devil would leave just as he left Jesus out there in the desert.

Prayer:
Father, I thank You for who You are. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is You and You alone who I wish to worship and serve. Father, I wish to renounce any comfort that I may have received from the sins I have committed. I ask for Your forgiveness and I thank You for all the grace, mercy, forgiveness and love that You offer so freely. I pray for the wisdom to see through the lies that the devil throws my way. For the strength to rebuke him and close my ears to any more of his lies. Lord, I pray my faith will continue to grow stronger and through that our relationship will continue to grow stronger. It is in Your name that I pray. Amen.