The Long Road

Matt 4:9  “’All this I will give you,’ he said…” Satan was tempting Jesus to take a short cut.  After his death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples on a different mountain and says,   “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt 28:18).  But the devil is saying you don’t have to suffer and die.  You can take the easy route and get everything you want.  That’s so tempting for us.  We live in an instant society where everything is available to us.  Everybody says why wait, have what you want now and pay for it later.  It doesn’t matter if you can’t afford it.  If you want it, get it.  But Jesus understood there were no short cuts.  He knew what lie ahead of him and what he must do.  None of like to wait and we certainly don’t want to suffer, but if we’re going to be the men and women that God desires, and can use, we need to quit looking for the easy way out and be willing to stay with God through the long, hard, haul.  “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Ro 8:17,18)

How am I looking for short cuts to avoid suffering?

How does God want to use my pain for His glory and His purposes?

Lord, forgive me for being more concerned about my own comfort than your kingdom.  Give me the strength to carry on.  I want to be your person.  I want to receive the true glory that you promise.  Help me to see your hand at work in those hard places. Amen.