The Wilderness – Lent Day 31

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Matthew 4:1-2                                                                                                                                                            

Thirst, hunger, cold, and wild animals. The wilderness is dangerous! Someone posted, “Don’t raise your tent and camp where there are boulders from rockfalls.

Jesus was filled with the Spirit at His baptism. He was Spiritually full and walking on air, so to speak. One would think that Jesus should have gone into Jerusalem and began His ministry with a huge crusade, preaching to the masses, and witnessing the salvation of thousands!

However, The Father…God, had another plan. Jesus was led into the wilderness. The Father led His Son into the wilderness…but why? The answer? Simply – to be tempted by the devil. Why would The Father subject His son to such treatment? Why the wilderness?

The wilderness is a location for intense experiences. Moses’ encounter with God deep in the wilderness came from a burning bush, and God revealed His personal Name. Elijah heard the “still” or quiet, small voice.

Jesus was led into the wilderness to experience the presence of God in a unique way. Jesus was God and man, and as such came to show us how to live. Just as Jesus was tempted, so we will experience temptation. Jesus experienced the wilderness and proved that we too, can experience the wilderness…and succeed. Not in our own power, but with the almighty power of God, The Father.

During this Lent season, you may be in a wilderness. Take heart! Just as Jesus emerged from the wilderness, so you can leave it, victorious. Wilderness experiences last for a period of time and are designed to lead us into the presence of God.

How about you?  Are you in The Wilderness?

Comments

Post a Comment

Feel free to comment.

Popular posts from this blog

The One In Charge

I have a problem.   Can you help me? The item that I recently purchased is not working correctly.   Please help me. If you can’t help, can you call the person in charge?   It’s frustrating when something doesn’t perform as the instructions have led you to believe it should!   Have you experienced this?   Hard-earned money is spent, time wasted with unreadable instructions and finally, the object just doesn’t work.   You need the maker, the creator, or perhaps, the person in charge.   The men were moving with purpose.   They heard that someone was nearby who might possibly be able to solve a problem.   The Ten, as they were known, had done their homework.   The research was flawless and pointed to one man, one expert who could help.   He was the one who could give the answer to an impossible problem.   The Ten were lepers.   Outcasts!   They had no one on their side.   No one cared!   They were on their own, but Jesus had helped others, solved their unsolvable issues.  
Read more

Walking On Water

(If You Want To Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of The Boat) Peter, one of the twelve disciples, is remembered as a hot-headed individual, a bit impulsive, and rather single-minded.  Parents like to cite his actions to their young ones on how not to act around other people.  However, Peter is known as the only one who got out of the boat when Jesus called to him during a vicious storm. Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.   When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”    “Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:25-29 (NIV) We read this episode in the life of Jesus, Peter, and the rest of the disciples and think how wonderful it must have been.
Read more

Thirsty – Lent Day 4

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:2 Thirsty. I am so thirsty. I need something to drink…something to satisfy this dying thirst. What can satisfy my thirst? Water! Perhaps Coke or even tea? Maybe, but when one is thirsty,…really thirsty, nothing beats a cup of cold water. Have you experienced a genuine thirst for God? Do you desire God? Do you need Him just as a desert dweller needs water? Why are you waiting? God is watching and ready, we need only approach Him, and bring our thirst to Him. He alone can satisfy. “Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.” The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Don’t settle your thirst for that which will not satisfy. Only God can quench your thirst for Him. Lent is a time of contemplation. As you dwell on God’s love for you through Jesus’ act of forgiveness, don’t let thirst drive you away from God’s love. Come to Him. Allow Him to satisfy your thirst. My
Read more