All -- Now!

The morning news sizzled the airways punctuating our minds with information from interesting to disastrous. Capturing my interest was a commercial that flashed in the middle. Some store was having a sale, (imagine that?!) and in the background music played with the words, “I want it all . . . I want it now.”

As I turned to the Word for my morning devotions, that thought was still playing in the back of my mind. Silently my heart cried out to God, turning the philosophy of those words in a different direction. “I do want it all, Lord, all YOU have for me. . .”

He took me to Luke 4 and began penetrating my heart with Truth. Jesus, being tempted of the Devil, was confronted with this same temptation being used today! First, the enemy plays on his immediate physical need. “You want something to satisfy your hunger.” What’s the philosophy behind it? ALL --- NOW! Comfort, satisfaction, temporal filling – immediately!

Jesus responds with an eternal perspective. “Man does not live on bread alone” (John 4:4 NIV.) The Message paraphrases His words like this, “It take more than bread to really live.”

Ousted! Overridden! Still persisting, the enemy tries another path – same philosophy! Immediate, fleshy, earthly power. He shows Jesus in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. “. . . Worship me, and it will all be yours” (John 4:5 NIV). ALL – NOW!)

Jesus takes out the temporal pressure by sticking with the eternal Word, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only!”

Silenced. Superseded. Pressing on, the devil resorts to the same philosophy, slightly re-arranged. At the highest point of religions recognition – the Temple of Jerusalem he tempts him with, “prove it – NOW.” “IF you are the Son of God . . . throw yourself down from here. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” “All – NOW!”

Jesus takes out the temporal temptation with the eternal TRUTH! “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

Hushed! Overcome! The enemy leaves Him alone . . . only until he can find another way to slip in.

Isn’t it amazing! All these hundreds of years and the enemy of our souls still uses the same tactics!? The “All-NOW” philosophy of our world today still gets us into trouble if we let it. But, when we turn it from temporal to eternal it can be the biggest blessing of our lives!

GOD – I WANT ALL OF YOU – and TODAY, I WILL LOVE YOU MORE, OBEY IMMEDIATELY, AND TRUST YOU IN EVERYTHING. ALL – NOW!

By Janene Dubbeld

For Gods Glory

Take it with You

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5