Daily Devotional for Monday, December 29

The Terrain Where Jesus Was Tempted

“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,” Luke 4:1.

Luke 4 begins with the temptation of Jesus Christ. I find it interesting that the Bible tells us in verse 1 that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, and after the temptation concluded, Jesus “returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee” (Luke 4:14). Regardless of what the Lord did, said or where He went, He always did the will of His Father (Luke 22:42). Are you a child of God? If so, do you always do the will of your Father?

If you consider the temptation of Jesus, you will notice that Satan tempted Him with physical considerations. Satan tempted Him to turn the stone to bread (Luke 4:3). The devil took Him to a high mountain and offered Him the kingdoms of the world (verses 5-7). Satan even took Jesus to Jerusalem and “set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,” and challenged Him (verse 9). Do you notice the contrast between what Jesus did and what Satan did? Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit because He sought to do the will of the Father (John 4:34). Satan, on the other hand, focused his efforts and temptation on the physical. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

I wonder how many times I fail God because I try to consider spiritual matters through a physical lens. Instead of relying on God, I trust in my efforts or the resources around me. Instead of praying to God, I talk to my friends. I once preached at a church where I was asked what I was going to do to grow their church. People were surprised when I suggested trusting the Holy Spirit to lead. Why is it so difficult for us to simply trust in the Lord?

REFLECTION

Are you seeking God’s will, and are you allowing the Holy Spirit to lead your life?

Chris Floyd