And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
Luke 4:6-8 NIV
After Jesus’ baptism, he went into the wilderness for 40 days. And at the end of that time, Satan began to tempt him. In one of these temptations, Satan took Jesus to a high place and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. He then offered to give it all to Jesus if he would bow down and worship Satan. But Jesus refused, responding from the Scripture that we should worship God alone.
Satan tempted Jesus by offering him all that the world had to offer. He tempts us in the same way today, not as a grotesque creature with horns and a pitchfork, but with all the glamor that Madison Ave can provide. Don’t fall prey to the transient splendor our culture offers up. Instead, join with Jesus in choosing to worship and serve God alone and to experience his eternal splendor.
