February 4, 2022
Pray Against Ambition
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.
Luke 4:5–8 (ESV) — 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”
The second temptation Jesus faced was the temptation of ambition. In our appetite for more (first temptation), we often take shortcuts to get what we want. Rather than being content with the plans God has for us, we overwork to gain power, success, and status. Our ambition often drives us to do things our own way instead of God’s way.
Here, Satan sets before Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. As the Son of God, Jesus already had a right to these kingdoms, and one day at His second coming, they will indeed be His. Revelation 11:15 says, “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” But what Satan tries deceiving Jesus with is a shortcut to obtaining them. He is offering Jesus power, authority, and success in exchange for worship.
See, as long as sin dominates the world, Satan remains the prince and ruler of this world (John 14:30, 16:11; Eph 2:2). So the devil’s offer to Jesus is really an attempt at keeping his own power, and his tactic is to tempt Jesus to take power and authority for Himself in a way that the Father never planned or willed for Him to take. The Father’s plan for the Son was the cross, while Satan’s plan was a cross-free path to power and authority. All it would take was a shift in Jesus’ allegiance, but it was an empty dream He was being promised. It sounds nice, even tempting, to take the pain-free option. Even Jesus in Gethsemane asked His Father if there was another way, but He chose His Father’s will, knowing it was the cross.
As we fight against this temptation like Jesus did, we are fighting against the lure of a different path, a cross-free and Christ-free solution to sin, which is no solution at all. Trusting in our good works will never get us anywhere with God. The remedy against this temptation is to worship God alone, and trust that He is still the only way, truth, and life. There is no kingdom, power, authority, or success that Satan can offer us that even comes close to comparing to the Kingdom of our God. We must daily acknowledge that God’s way is not just the only way, but the better way.
Consider:
Prayer Points:
Lord’s Prayer Focus: The Father’s Guidance
Jesus taught us that in our prayers we should seek God’s guidance away from temptation. In the final sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays: “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13a). Jesus shows us that we should be praying for God’s guidance. Guidance isn’t just limited to our next car, a new job, or what to study. We should pray for God to guide us away from and through temptation. The passages in this section show us specific ways to pray for God’s guidance and out of temptation.
Luke 4:5–8 (ESV) — 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”
The second temptation Jesus faced was the temptation of ambition. In our appetite for more (first temptation), we often take shortcuts to get what we want. Rather than being content with the plans God has for us, we overwork to gain power, success, and status. Our ambition often drives us to do things our own way instead of God’s way.
Here, Satan sets before Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. As the Son of God, Jesus already had a right to these kingdoms, and one day at His second coming, they will indeed be His. Revelation 11:15 says, “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” But what Satan tries deceiving Jesus with is a shortcut to obtaining them. He is offering Jesus power, authority, and success in exchange for worship.
See, as long as sin dominates the world, Satan remains the prince and ruler of this world (John 14:30, 16:11; Eph 2:2). So the devil’s offer to Jesus is really an attempt at keeping his own power, and his tactic is to tempt Jesus to take power and authority for Himself in a way that the Father never planned or willed for Him to take. The Father’s plan for the Son was the cross, while Satan’s plan was a cross-free path to power and authority. All it would take was a shift in Jesus’ allegiance, but it was an empty dream He was being promised. It sounds nice, even tempting, to take the pain-free option. Even Jesus in Gethsemane asked His Father if there was another way, but He chose His Father’s will, knowing it was the cross.
As we fight against this temptation like Jesus did, we are fighting against the lure of a different path, a cross-free and Christ-free solution to sin, which is no solution at all. Trusting in our good works will never get us anywhere with God. The remedy against this temptation is to worship God alone, and trust that He is still the only way, truth, and life. There is no kingdom, power, authority, or success that Satan can offer us that even comes close to comparing to the Kingdom of our God. We must daily acknowledge that God’s way is not just the only way, but the better way.
Consider:
- What shortcuts is Satan tempting you to take that will end up compromising your sole allegiance to God?
- What worldly ambitions do you need to lay down at the feet of King Jesus?
- What does Sabbath rest look like in your own life and family right now?
Prayer Points:
- Ask the Lord to train you to rest.
- Pray for contentment in what God desires for your life and in the ways He will provide for it.
Posted in 2022 Prayer and Fasting