"You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve." (Matthew 4:10).
Temptation breathed down his neck. Satan himself pummelled Jesus with despairing thoughts, trying to move the Christ to error. In the wilderness, dry and breaking, Jesus stood alone under the wrath of the tempter. "I will give you all the kingdoms of the world," said Satan. "Only worship me."
Deuteronomy 6:13 says only God deserves worship: "It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear." Him only will I serve. I cannot serve you. You will not get my adoration.
Conquering Temptation
Jesus conquered temptation in a way we couldn not. Adam had a garden, Jesus a wilderness. Adam had a sinless world, Jesus a fallen one. Adam had a full belly, Jesus an emaciated one. Adam had a companion, Jesus was alone. Adam was tempted once, Jesus was pummeled for forty days.
But Jesus won. He didn't buckle. Applying Deuteronomy 6-8 to the temptations which beset him, Christ overcame. The word was his weapon.
One thing the word taught him was that only God is worthy of worship and service. Knowing this kept Jesus from giving Satan the victory. He would never bend the knee to such a fiend.
Victory Through Service
We can also experience victory over temptation by serving God. They say the easiest way to get the air out of a container is to fill it with something else. Do you serve the flesh? Do you bend the knee to things that kill you? Perhaps victory could be found through serving God? Serve Him and time for trouble evaporates. Worship Him alone.
Temptations beset everyone, of course. Even those engaged in serving God through their lives experience temptation. In truth, they usually experience temptation more than others, for they are on the front lines. Those who neglect the service of God aren't in the battle, so why would Satan attack them? They are right where he wants them. But the service of God is a great opportunity for victory in the Christian life.
I was eighteen years old when I first began serving in the church. Home for the summer, I began helping with my church's youth ministry. I did whatever I could. It was a vital time. I could have gotten myself into temptation and trouble that summer, but instead my hands and life and calendar were full with helping others. For me, it was my way of serving God. For only He is worthy of my life of worship.
Consider service to God as an avenue for spiritual victory. Press into the worship of God through a life of service. Your singing to Him ought to be an expression of what your entire life is about. Work as worship to Him. Be a friend to others as a way to worship Him. Help in your church as a way to worship Him. And watch how victory over temptation flows as you worship God alone.
