Daily Reading: Matthew 4
Scripture Focus: Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4.1)
Devotional Thought: Doesn't the Bible say that God cannot be tempted with evil, and that he does not tempt anyone with evil (James 1.13)? Doesn't the Lord's Prayer teach us to say "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6.12)? So, why did God lead his Son into the wilderness to be tempted?
Why indeed did God lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil? Ah... I see! God did not tempt his Son, but the devil did! But still... why did God lead him where he knew he would be tempted? And, why does he allow me to go through temptations and trials?
First of all, notice when this happened. It was right after a great spiritual high (his baptism) and right before Jesus embarked on his earthly ministry. This temptation prepared Jesus for his life's work, by reminding him to continually trust in God! Spiritual highs are not enough. We need grace to get us through the valleys!
This temptation helped Jesus answer the deep questions of motivation. Am I serving the Father because everything is easy and comfortable? Jesus had to get past his "delight of sonship" to the "demands of surrender." We, too, need to examine our motives for serving God. Am I serving God because it's fun and easy, or because I love him supremely?
Also, this temptation prepared Jesus for greater trials. The cross loomed before him, and he would need to grow stronger and stronger to say, "Not my will, but yours be done." Temptation develops our "Yes-to-God" muscles!
This temptation gave Jesus the 'credentials' he needed to fulfill his ministry. We serve a God who has been tempted just like us, so we can trust him!
Prayer: Lord, lead us not into temptation and when we are tempted, deliver us from evil. Help us to grow in every trial and temptation, so that we become more and more like Jesus. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 88.6-12
6 You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. 7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah
8 You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror[a] to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; 9 my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. 10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah 11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon? 12 Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
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