The Great Temptation - Ken Barnes
“You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? (Malachi 3:14 NLT)
As a Christian, if you haven’t felt like the people of Malachi’s day, at some point, you probably will. When evildoers prosper and the righteous are burdened with adversities, there is a great temptation to conclude that serving God is in vain. Take courage, ultimately the righteous and the unrighteous will get their just reward.
The Devil works overtime to promote an incorrect image of God. What the Bible tells us about God, the Evil One voices the opposite. It is a battle that starts in our minds. If we compare our circumstances with the unrighteous, we will often come to the wrong conclusion about God. If I allow myself to form my view of God based on what he gives me as compared to others, I have started to succumb to the great temptation of judging the character of God. When Psalm 145:17 (RSV) says, “The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.” And all means all.
If you are stuck in dire circumstances, look to the cross and God’s Word, not to your surroundings. Circumstances change, but God’s Word never does. Psalms 11:4-5a (NLT) says, “But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked.” Don’t mistake silence for lack of concern.
God always takes care of business. For some, it may be in this life, for others, the next one, but God has the last word. Don’t submit to Satans great temptation to view God as unjust.
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