Christ Church Daily Devotion Jan 1 2024

In today's Daily Devotion, we read from Luke 4:1-13 about Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Jesus resisted the temptation to use his power for material needs, political gain, or to impress people. This testing and preparation prepared him for his ministry on earth. The devil left Jesus for a time but would likely tempt him again in the future. We are encouraged to take the time to prepare, seek God's guidance, and rely on His strength in our own challenging times. Happy New Year and welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for January 1st, 2024. Today we will be reading from Luke, Chapter 4, Verses 1 through 13. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. Jesus answered, It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone. The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, I will give you all authority and splendor. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours. Jesus answered, It is written, Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down from here. For it is written, He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully. They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against the stone. Jesus answered, It is said, Do not put the Lord your God to the test. When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Immediately after his baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into a desolate, isolated place called the wilderness for a time of preparation. The key question to be resolved was how Jesus would use his power. Fully human and fully divine, Jesus would be faced with difficulties, trials, and huge challenges in his ministry on earth. This question on the use of his power needed to be addressed before his ministry began. In this passage, we see Jesus resist the urge or temptation to use his power to satisfy material needs, to gain political power, or to impress people with dramatic actions that tested God the Father. At the end of this time of testing and preparation, Luke tells us that the devil left Jesus until an opportune time. What does this mean? It likely means that the devil would tempt Jesus again when opportunities arose. When the Sadducees and Pharisees tried to trick him, when Jesus was arrested, certainly when he was crucified, and likely many other times, Jesus had to decide whether and how to use his power. He did that only in ways that glorified the Father because Jesus was prepared. Today's personal worship option. Think for a bit on whether you are ever known to fire, then get ready and aim. The penchant for action runs strong in many of us. Pray today for God's guidance in helping you to take the time to prepare, to know God's will, and lean on God's strength in your challenging times.