Luke 4 begins just after Jesus had been baptized in the Jordan and was full of the Holy Spirit. He was led into the wilderness and tempted by the devil for forty days. Each time the devil tempted Jesus, He stood on scriptures to refuse to do what the devil was tempting Him to do. Being a fallen angel, the devil knew scriptures to use to try to convince Jesus to sin, but He knew and chose better. After His time in the wilderness, Jesus returned to Galilee and then on to Nazareth. In each place He taught in the synagogues and everyone praised Him. However, in Nazareth, where He grew up, He spoke and the people drove Jesus out of town, with the intent to throw Him off the cliff. Jesus went from there to Capernaum, where He taught with incredible authority and healed many. The chapter closes out with Jesus going to a solitary place. When the people found Him, they tried to get Him to stay. Jesus’ response was, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” – (Luke 4:43) And Jesus kept doing what He was sent to do in the synagogues of Judea.
In the wilderness,
temptation will come;
the easy way out,
but do not succumb.
Through times of testing,
our hearts are refined;
to trust in the truth,
stick with God’s design.
The wilderness times,
help us find God’s strong;
to trust in His love,
and strength to press on.
It’s through refining,
that we are prepared;
for all that is next,
we become aware.
Aware of presence,
goodness and His grace;
His help and His hope,
for all of our days.
Wherever He leads,
may we choose to trust;
for His plans are best,
and His way’s a must.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your word. Thank You that You show us that Jesus was tempted, rejected, threatened, admired, celebrated, and sought after, throughout His life of following after You. Thank You that You show us that for every high and low, Your Spirit was upon Jesus. Thank You that the same Spirit sent to be with Him, dwell in us when we choose to follow after You. Forgive us for thinking that all should be easy and pain-free in following after You. Show us to look for Your nearness in all things and at all times, for Your presence is promised and proven again and again. Lead us to love those around us as You do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your presence in our wilderness, and Your direction in the ways we are meant to go. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. – Isaiah 43:19