Today’s Encouragement is Matthew 4:1 NLT Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.
To Be Tempted –
It’s interesting that, immediately after baptism… Jesus followed the Spirit into the wilderness… so that… He could be tempted by the devil…
This was the purpose of this 40-day wilderness experience, to be tempted!
Now, couldn’t this have happened faster than 40 days? And maybe even without fasting? Why did Jesus ‘need’ to be tempted? What purpose does His wilderness period serve?
Is it possible that one reason was to prove to Satan, our enemy, that even after 40 long days of suffering… Jesus was still the Strongest. That the enemy’s 3 temptations, his ‘best shots’, were all impotent against the Son?
And friends, this wilderness temptation says to you and me… Jesus is Lord over all! He resisted temptation by using the Word of God (“It is written…”) and even when Satan offered Jesus the whole world (notice that Jesus didn’t say, ‘it’s not yours to offer!’) He refused to honor (or to fear) Satan in any way…
And – after this, (v 11) ‘angels came and took care of Jesus’.
Friends, our times of testing and troubles may seem overwhelming, but they are nothing compared to Jesus’ wilderness test, nor to His suffering on the Cross.
And the assurance for us, my friends, ‘after this… the angels came and took care of Him.’
Father God, we choose to trust You. As we endure our own suffering, trials, and temptations, we will choose trust You. We will remember Your words, Your promises, and that You will always take care of us.
God will Take Care of You
Rosemary Siemens
Today’s Encouragement 