Devotional:

There was a time when Nintendo was the must-have gaming system. There was no equal on the shelf. Adults and kids had to have a Nintendo. The joy of Bo Jackson taking a toss sweep in Tecmo Bowl to the end zone or saving the Princess in Super Mario was unmatched. Then came Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, etc., and the original Nintendo disappeared from the shelf.

As humans, we are more easily distracted by newness and power than we like to admit.

When the beast appears in Revelation, people worship it because they believe there is no equal. Jesus warned His followers about this long before John’s vision of the beast, saying, “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

Something new and more powerful shows up, and our love is tested. This happens in Revelation 13, but it also happens every day of our lives.

Every day, we hear a voice that says what we are and what we have is not enough. If we listen to those lies long enough, we’ll start to believe them.

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus experienced the same temptation we face today. He overcame Satan’s deception and lies by recalling what’s true.

In the Bible, God reminds us that lasting joy, love, and contentment come from our relationship with Him. The world wants us to pursue temporary satisfaction, chasing power and possessions that are here today and gone tomorrow (Matthew 6:19-21).

But as we read God’s Word, we see that there’s more to life than this world. God is building a spiritual kingdom that will last forever, one “where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20).

Reflect:

• Where do you derive your happiness? Where does the Bible tell us we’ll find lasting happiness?
• What things other than Jesus are you pursuing to find joy? How can we avoid being led astray?