Devotions this week based on the Message: “Counterfeit Gods: The Seduction of Success”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Tim Keller entitled, Counterfeit Gods.
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
I would say few of us would claim to be “power hungry” people. Perhaps we could give you a name or two that we perceive as someone who desired power for the sake of power and used it for self-serving purposes!
But we would never be that way…would we?
Of course not.
Or would we?
Perhaps your ambition is not to be the most powerful person in the room or in your community. Perhaps you would say, “I don’t want to be in charge of people.” The thought of having to make decisions that affect many people may send you running.
So of course I don’t want power.
Or do we?
Interesting, that we can see the “BIG” power grabs and condemn them, but a careful look into our hearts just might reveal we are a little more power hungry than we give ourselves credit.
Why do I say that?
I know my sinful nature. It CRAVES power and LOVES to use it for self-centered purposes.
The first temptation given by Satan to mankind got Adam and Eve to want to be “like God.” It tempted them to consider THEY could have as much power as God by “knowing good and evil.” Satan just used the same ploy he fell for by wanting a position in heaven that God had not given to him. Satan wanted to be God. Satan wanted Adam and Eve to think they could be God.
Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Adam and Eve fell for the temptation and passed on to every human being that followed a sinful nature that wanted the power to be God.
We want all the power to be the boss of our own lives. We do not want others to tell us what to do. We do not want God telling us what to do. To allow someone to direct the ambitions and directions of our lives it to relinquish power to someone else.
That is hard to do because inside each of us is a power hungry, sinful nature that wants to be in charge.
This is the heart that God is going to go after. Power is not a bad thing if we understand how to use it properly. But as with previous weeks, God wants to re order our heart so that we recognize ALL power and glory is God’s and God’s alone!
Apply: Where and how does your power hungry sinful nature show up? Reflect on this question today and see what truth God reveals to you!
Prayer: Forgive me for my power grabs that are nothing less than wanting what only you rightly deserve: power and glory. Thank you for using your power to do all to rescue us from our sinful desires for power and turn us back to recognize in gratitude that truly all power and glory are yours alone! Amen.