The Spiritual Pilgrimage - Day 5

Monday, February 22nd

     “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

                                                                                                                        Matthew 4:8-10

     On day 5 of our Lenten pilgrimage, let’s consider the temptation to worship the wrong things.  In Jesus’ wilderness testing, the grandeur of the world was set before him.  Worship of, and allegiance to, Satan brought with it the promise of earthly wealth and power.  

      Its tempting to grab for the brass ring, even if we have to let go of our soul in order to reach for it.   Many’s the life that has been ruined by reaching too fiercely for the wrong things.

 

      Fall prey to the deceiver’s offer here, and life may sparkle for a season, but it will ultimately spiral down into the darkest of all darknesses.   Worship of the world exacts a high toll.

      Remember Jesus’ warning?  “What will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?” (Matthew 16:26)

Prayer

   Lord Jesus, give us eyes to see, ears to hear and the wisdom to discern what is true, 

   lasting and eternal.  Help us to take hold of the life that really is life.  Enable us not to waste

   our lives in pursuit of temporal treasures that are susceptible to rust and thievery.  And save us

   from ever offering worship to anything or anyone, save the Lord our God.  Amen.