Focus
Breathe in clear thoughts of peace and reflection as you prepare to hear God speak to you through the scripture and the writer. Put aside all the things the world says you have to accomplish today and use this time to rest in God’s presence.
Read
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Reflect
We began these Lenten eVotions by saying, Lent is the story about evil forces that fragment our lives. Our gospel reading from Matthew 4:1-11, follows the story of Jesus’ baptism and the coming of God’s Spirit upon Jesus at his baptism. The basic role of Spirit in the New Testament is to be an encourager.
The words of affirmation that Jesus heard at his baptism held him in his time of temptations in the wilderness, and strengthened him for his compassionate ministry. As God’s Beloved Son, Jesus issued the Great Commission: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” (Matthew 28: 18-20, CEV).
Because someone fulfilled this Great Commission for us, God is like a kind Father and loving Mother to us. We are God’s sons and daughters, and we know the fullness of life. Lent is the season for carrying this healing message into a broken world.
Pray
God, our loving Father and Nurturing Mother, clothe us with your Holy Spirit that we may worship and faithfully serve you.
Go with God!
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