Matthew Chapter 4

We open this chapter up to Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.  Gosh.  This should remind me on days or nights of where I am feeling really low that, yes, Jesus did walk in my shoes.  He also was tempted but the difference is that he withstood Satan and put Satan in his place.  What if this year we tried  to do something differently?  What if this year I say, "today I am going to think, speak and only listen to positive, Godly thoughts.  "Satan go away because today I am worshiping the Lord Jesus, and I am only serving him."  (taken from Matthew 4:10).  I tell you this because I have lived it.  Each year I have grown closer and closer to the Lord.  What my experience has been is that when I pray, read and practice living my life more purposefully Christian, the temptations lesson and I can stand even stronger against Satan and his temptations.  

Matthew 4:19-20 Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"  And they left their nets at once and followed him.  I wonder what it was like to live while Jesus was here on earth.  Imagine the faith these men had to just get up and leave everything to follow Jesus.  I ask myself that question, can I do that?  Can I leave my house, my things, friends, family? Or on other days, how, how do I get up and follow Jesus today? 

As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, we realize that the things here on earth are just not that important.  We live in very uncertain times, but I have been taking refuge the last few months in imagining what it will be like in heaven and know that the stuff that happens here really doesn't matter for eternal perspective.  Different passages from Psalms will pop into my head like how God created this world, how when he speaks the wind listens and obeys.  You may want to keep a pad and pen close to you as you read your Bible in case a verse speaks to you.  Remember, Jesus lived here.  He knows our temptations, our pains and our sorrows.  We are never alone. 

With love and until tomorrow I hope your temptations are small and your blessings are large.