Scripture: Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. (Luke 4:1 NKJV)
Observation: After His baptism, and in the final preparation for His ministry, Jesus is led by the Spirit to the wilderness where He spends forty days in communion with the Father And where He is tempted by the devil. Once this period of fasting and prayer is ended Jesus begins His formal ministry on earth.
Application: At times we read how the devil tempted Jesus as He was about to embark on His mission and forget that He had been preparing since birth. Nevertheless, He had been working in Joseph’s carpenter shop, studying the Scriptures and praying, and He now spent a time of intensive, dedicated, undivided communion with the Father. Jesus obviously sensed a need to spend time with His Father. The attacks He would be subjected to, ending in His death, would go beyond what any human being would be called to endure, and it was this habit of constant prayer which sustained Him through the darkest hours of His life and ministry. I woke up early (the middle of the night, really), and read these words:
“It makes all the difference in the world with us spiritually whether we rely upon God without doubt, as upon a sure foundation, or whether we are seeking to find some righteousness in ourselves before we come to him. . .”
“The Lord loves us, and bears with us, even when we are ungrateful to him, forgetful of his mercies, wickedly unbelieving. . .”
“The plan of salvation is ample. It is no narrow, limited provision that has been made for us. We are not obliged to trust in the evidence that we had a year or a month ago, but we may have the assurance today that Jesus lives, and is making intercession for us. . .”
“ If we would refresh others, we must ourselves drink of the Fountain that never becomes dry. It is our privilege to become acquainted with the Source of our strength, to have hold of the arm of God. If we would have spiritual life and energy, we must commune with God. We can speak to him of our real wants; and our earnest petitions will show that we realize our needs, and will do what we can to answer our own prayers. We must obey the injunction of Paul, “Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.”
“Only believe, and you shall surely see the salvation of God.” (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, April 22, 1884)
What beautiful promises! What calm assurance we find in these words. I know I need more prayer, not so that I can “twist” God’s arm to get Him to do what I want Him to do, but so that I may know Him better and thus have a greater assurance of His plan of salvation for me.
Prayer: Dear Father, I want to know You more, I want to see a clearer picture of You, and I know that it can only happen as I commune with you each day. I’m open to You and what You have to show me today.
