Based on Matthew 4:1-11 ( KJV )

Satan's Arrogance is no match for Christ

The arrogance of Satan is candidly portrayed in the account of the forty days and forty nights Jesus spent in the wilderness. Satan believes that he can offer Jesus a variety of things that will tempt Him to give in to the pleasures of the flesh. In verse 3 Satan offers Christ food; in verse 6 Satan wants Jesus to perform a stunt from which He will need saving; and in verses 8 and 9 the Devil offers Jesus the world and all its kingdoms if Jesus will only fall down and worship Satan.

In a light-hearted look at this scene, it reminds me of something you'd see on a cartoon where the bad guy thinks he is so smart that all the things he has to offer will lure the hero away into a world of evil. And each time Satan offers Jesus something he thinks is just “to die for,” Jesus answers with a resounding “no”. And to boot, Jesus tells Satan that everything He needs to live proceeds from out of the mouth of God. (vs. 4)

What about us today? When the Devil comes calling; trying to give us what he thinks is our heart's desire, do we tell Him that all we need comes from God? Do we fall prey to the temptations of what this world has to offer and lose sight of the fact that our life force is in Christ? Like Christ, we must be able to look Satan in the eye and said “no”. In doing so we will be given the true riches of the universe. If we decline Satan's invitation, God's angels will then be free to come and minister to us in times of temptation and need. (vs. 11). In saying no to such pleasures of the flesh, we say yes to eternal pleasures beyond our comprehension. The story will end with the bad guy continuing to seek those who would say yes ; while we enjoy basking in the light of our hero.

PATRICK (LARRY) GALLO