1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
REFLECTION
After Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He overcame Satan’s temptation and demonstrated His commitment to God. Thus prepared, Jesus began to preach, called His first disciples, and demonstrated His God-given authority by miracles of healing.
If Jesus had turned stone into bread, thrown Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. or worshiped Satan, in order to feed himself, prove himself to the crowds, or gain His kingdom without dying for it, He would no longer have been the obedient son of God worthy of our imitation.
However, Jesus didn’t take the shortcut to glory, but followed the hard and long path of obedience, lived by God and resisted temptation by relying on God’s word. God’s wisdom isn’t just for us to know the truth, but to obey it.
What’s your attitude toward God’s word? How do you resist when temptation comes?
Prayer & Journaling:
On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
REFLECTION
Before Jesus began His ministry on earth, John the Baptist prepared Judea for His appearance. Religious leaders believed they were saved by righteous living. When John told them to bear fruit in keeping with repentance (v8) he was telling them to change their mind about their need for a saviour and teach others to do the same.
Salvation is not a fruit bearing event. When Jesus enters someone’s life by his faith, he does a fundamental transformation of heart and behaviour. Salvation goes hand in hand with actually living it out. Bearing fruit comes after we’re saved as we influence others through our changed attitude and behaviour, and by implementing the Lord’s plans for our life.
How many times have you tried to change and only to be back at the same old habits and lifestyle as before? Quit what you’re doing and look at what God is doing inside and out; and choose to rely on the Holy Spirit to transform you.
Prayer & Journaling:
On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
REFLECTION
Even though the nation of Israel waited for centuries for God’s anointed King to be born, Jesus’ birth, however, was not greeted with royal gladness by the nation and its leaders. Instead, there was intrigue and conflict. The political and religious establishment felt threatened by the coming of the Messiah. It was left to foreign leaders (the wise men from the east) to welcome the newborn King.
The wise men knew Jesus as “the one who has been born king of the Jews”. They not only found Jesus, but worshiped him and witnessed to the entire city of Jerusalem concerning his birth (vv. 2-3).
In what ways has your search for the Lord resulted in worshiping him and telling others about him?
Spend time worshiping the King of kings. Then ask God to help you tell others about him.
Prayer & Journaling:
On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.
