TEMPTED
SCRIPTURE
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
-Matthew 4:1 NIV
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he used his experience to settle the trajectory of his life and confirm his mission to be the bridge to bring people to his Father. False accusations didn't distract him. Debate didn't unnerve him. Misunderstanding and betrayal from his followers didn't make him question the mission. Jesus's focus on his Father in the wilderness strengthened how he embraced his mission, and nothing made him lose focus.
I vacillate more than I would like. I speak confidently about faith in God, try to teach it clearly, and still wonder if I am choosing right in life situations. Questions haunt me like day-old garlic bread. In those times, I ask the wrong questions. I want specifics about the time and place when God wants to give me my next step of obedience. Yet I need to remember how Jesus responded to temptation.
Jesus took the Word of his Father and used it as his shield to reject the lies and empty promises of the tempter. And then he feasted--not on bread, or power. He feasted on every word from his Father.
When we know that God has our best interests at heart and will do anything to kindle a fire in our hearts for what he wants, we feast there too.
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. What has temptation taught you about yourself?
2. How might God want to prepare a feast for you in your wilderness?
AFFIRMATION
God will always empower me with what I need to reject temptation.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Always-present God, help me practice listening to your voice instead of the tempter's voice.
SCRIPTURE
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
-Matthew 4:1 NIV
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he used his experience to settle the trajectory of his life and confirm his mission to be the bridge to bring people to his Father. False accusations didn't distract him. Debate didn't unnerve him. Misunderstanding and betrayal from his followers didn't make him question the mission. Jesus's focus on his Father in the wilderness strengthened how he embraced his mission, and nothing made him lose focus.
I vacillate more than I would like. I speak confidently about faith in God, try to teach it clearly, and still wonder if I am choosing right in life situations. Questions haunt me like day-old garlic bread. In those times, I ask the wrong questions. I want specifics about the time and place when God wants to give me my next step of obedience. Yet I need to remember how Jesus responded to temptation.
Jesus took the Word of his Father and used it as his shield to reject the lies and empty promises of the tempter. And then he feasted--not on bread, or power. He feasted on every word from his Father.
When we know that God has our best interests at heart and will do anything to kindle a fire in our hearts for what he wants, we feast there too.
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. What has temptation taught you about yourself?
2. How might God want to prepare a feast for you in your wilderness?
AFFIRMATION
God will always empower me with what I need to reject temptation.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Always-present God, help me practice listening to your voice instead of the tempter's voice.
Posted in Lent