Today, begins the “Lenten” Season—starting on Ash Wednesday and ending with a celebration on Easter Sunday. Now, the word ‘Lent’ is never used in Scripture; however, Jesus demonstrated and taught the need for the principles of Lent all the time. In fact, Jesus’ time in the wilderness is helpful for our understanding.
Scripture tells us Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit (Mat 4:1). What did he do for forty days in the wilderness? He prayed, fasted, and allow the Spirit to consecrate him for the mission of God. Jesus knew the enemy would come to stop him—an intense spiritual battle for Christ’s allegiance to God. The fight is real. Satan uses temptation, torment, and tiredness to stop our progress in God’s mission, too.
As I sit here this morning with a cup of coffee writing the devotional I am well acquainted with tiredness. I cling to the Apostle Paul’s exhortation, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal 6:9). In fact, I was too tired to get up early and get this lesson sent out at the usual time, but here it is in Jesus’ name! lol!
We are moving into our house after 1.5 years of being evacuated from our flood-damaged home. Last night, was our first time to stay in our restored house; but now it is time to make it a home once again. There is a difference.
A house is a physical dwelling place that serves as a residence. A home is filled with experiences, lessons, memories that draw us to know we belong and fill us with a sense of well-being. It will take discipline, work, and a willingness to create order in our house. Worth it all to make it a home. Nonetheless, it will be intense for a period of time and no one can make the journey for us.
As believers, physically we are the temple [house] of God and Jesus lives in us. He wants to clear, cleanse, and consecrate our house, to make it a holy home filled with his nature and character. We bear the name of Jesus; he is the name above the doorpost of our lives. We have been sealed by the Spirit and because of it, Satan will seek to rob, steal, and destroy our hope-driven vision, our energy for transformation, and our resolve to serve God’s purpose. We must pray, be willing to fast the things of this world, and live for eternity.
For the next forty days, we will be on a journey with Jesus. We must invite him to take us to a new level of making our hearts HIS home. We will be led into the deep places of our hearts through reflection, repentance, and renewal. He is the shalom—the complete wholeness and well-being—our lives required if we are going to rise in our discipleship and commission in God’s plan.
You are precious to God. He is not asking you to change yourself. He is asking for you to allow him to make your spiritual house alive with HIS supernatural Spirit of love and goodness. Oneness with God is the goal. Jesus was victorious in the wilderness and he can make us victorious, too. Therefore, he will sweep stuff away, but only the things that hinder our lives. New beginnings can be exciting even though a bit draining, right? He is getting us ready for Easter…resurrection living. Let’s take the journey with him.
Matthew 4:1-11 NTL Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted [tested] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the many ways you love us. We are blessed that you would make our hearts your home. Over these next forty days, we invite you to bring the transformation you know we need in order to experience more oneness with you. Take us on the journey, but please hold us close. In Jesus’ name. Amen.