Microwave faith?

The Temptation of Jesus: In the New Testament, Jesus' temptation in the wilderness serves as a powerful counter-example to the lure of immediate gratification. Satan offers Jesus immediate power and sustenance, yet Jesus responds with Scripture, demonstrating restraint and obedience to God's will. Matthew 4:3-4 states, "The tempter came to Him and said, 'If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.' But Jesus answered, 'It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' (Biblehub.com)

Satan wanted Jesus to take the quick and simple solution. He definitley didn’t want what was best for Jesus, he was only for his own self interest. Didn’t he know that the One who made the bread and who is the bread of Life didn’t need bread. The enemies temptation was one made in something that held no substance for Jesus.

Have you ever been tempted to settle for immediate results?  I know I have many times!  For the longest time, I thought if I would put in some effort and a little bit of work I get the result, the instant result I wanted.  I can't be the only one who has done this I'm sure.  I’ve experienced this when making a loaf of bread, ironically. It takes the right ingredience, Yes! But, it also requires for the best result, times of patiently waiting for the rise to happen, not once, but twice. And just so you know, the time in between rises, requires beating the dough and kneading it and reashaping it. Ouch! But as the baker, I know, it’s necessary for the best bread. If I don’t go through the full rising periods, my bread comes out flat or worse yet, a heavy brick. If you aren’t a baker, maybe my next illustration will hit home for you.

Have you ever blown bubbles with your kids or grandkids and saw the delight in their eyes as they ran around the yard trying so hard to catch them.  But, once they caught up to one, it would either pop before they could get to it, or they would try to capture it carefully, but non the less the bubble would pop.  There could be a moment quick delight and then disappointment for them…. but then on to another bubble.  I think this is a good illustration for us to look at what our lives can offer us, if we live our lives like this.  We can make a choice to run after something that gives that instant relief or satisfaction, only to have it pop and disappoint and then on to the next we go.  It can be an exhausting process as you run around in circles chasing down bubble after bubble.

It is comforting to me to know that Jesus also had these moments come to him, as in the verses I just shared.  The enemy and Jesus had no relationship, yet the enemy offered him instant success if he'd only bow to him. These are the moments in Jesus’ time on earth that speak to me in such greatness.

As, I continue to grow in my relationship with Jesus, I’m being developed and strengthened in and through the trials or storms that come to me.  Although, I may not want to have the storms, the reality is that without them, I will be a weak tree, with shallow roots, because I've been pampered and haven't withstood what actually strengthens me.  In other words, I just want what I want and don't want what my God wants.  Example: better house, more money, no health issues, perfect job.

I recently ran across this and thought it was so powerful.

His Perfect Will

“For I know the plan that I have for you declared the Lord God plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 19:11)

What is the plan that God has for us? Many believe that God’s plan is a specific area of service, a place to live, or the right job. Those types of things are merely the vehicles by which to complete His plan, which is the expression of Christ’s lfe through us as described in Matthew 5-7 (Heavenly Discipleship by Mike Wells)

It's no news to you that I love looking into God's Word and exploring the different words that stand out to me.  Today is a little different in that, I'm spending some time with you, looking at two words together.  First let's look at the word Gratification.

Gratification means:

the state of being gratified; great satisfaction.

Synonyms: comfort, enjoyment, delight, relish, pleasure

When we read the list of synonyms,  I think like you do, that it sounds pretty good.  We know that God is the God of all comfort and joy and delight and we relish in his love and lastly, we know he takes pleasure in us.  He says all of this in His Word!

But, this isn't because we've done something, it's because we trusted someone.  When first introduced to God, you may have felt something, like lightness or joyfulness but He is more than an emotion, He is a person to get to know.  Chasing after emotional experiences will leave you with dissatisfaction that needs a new fix or experience, just like the bubbles.

When you first meet a new person, you may have an instant connection with them somehow.  I'm in a new place and this happens to me quite offen.  Maybe, familiar likes or places you've been might start a conversation, but just meeting someone and feeling good for a moment doesn't mean you have any depth with them.  This takes a while and patience to know and be known.  Then there comes times in that relationship that a deeper root system is called upon for deep faith to be shared together.  

On to our second word….

instant:

occurring, done, or prepared with a minimal amount of time and effort; produced rapidly and with little preparation. ex: an instant book; instant answers; instant history. Designed to act or produce results quickly or immediately.

By reading through this dictionary meaning and explanation, it may leave us with a thought that a quick result is pretty good. But, I wonder if we put instant with gratification and see that, as we look at our day today, we can run after emotional bubbles, with empty calories that disappoint or give a quick high, or we can take this opportunity to grow in solid ingredience and go through the rising process for the best result. If we choose this, it has more benefits for our life than we can count.

I don’t know about you, but when I see God, face to face, I will delight in the Bread Maker and Provider as we commune and share what He’s done in my life, through all the highs and lows of my life. But most of all, I just want to be with Him and thank Him for all that I got to be apart of with Him.

Here are some verses for you to look at and meditate on that speak to this faith I'm talking about.

biblegateway.com is a great tool for looking up multiple verses and seeing them in sequence.

I Kings 2:4, 3:6, Psalm 69:13, Romans 1:5, Hebrews 11:6, Luke 22:32

Also, a deeper dive on instant gratification can be looked at here: Topical Bible: The Illusion of Immediate Gratification

Nothing can come to us that He didn't allow for our maturity, not for our defeat.  

Surrender to Him and the process as you come to know that He is trustworthy, even when we don't understand.

Stress over time shows us if we are living for our own self gratification or if we are trusting in Him for whatever, wherever and with whomever He leads us to.

I hope this encourages you today.

In His Sustaining Love,

Dayna

Photo by Drew Beamer https://unsplash.com/@dbeamer_jpg