As new director of a ministry, I really related to the Upper Room devotional for today: I wanted the youth to think I was the greatest. I wanted them to tell their friends, Hey, come to our church; our youth pastor is amazing. When we planned a county-wide event, I wanted to make it incredible; but organizing the event was a struggle because of my motivation: I was trying to prove myself, rather than focusing on what God was doing in our community. Satan tried to force Jesus to prove himself by taunting, Since you are God’s Son. . . But Jesus didn’t take the bait because he didn’t need to prove himself. Jesus knew who he was and what he was to do. He also knew that Satan wanted him to focus on himself rather than on God. Jesus defeated Satan’s scheme by quoting God’s word and glorified God through his obedience. We may feel that we need to prove ourselves, but our job is to point people to God. We don’t need to prove that we are good enough for God. God approves of us and considers us valuable enough to send Christ to earth to die for our sins. God already loves us. Andy Clapp (North Carolina, USA) Thought for the Day: God’s approval can free us from anxious striving. Prayer: Dear God, please help us to remember that we already have your approval. In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. Prayer Focus: Newly-ordained clergy Luke 4:1-13 Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert where the devil tempted Jesus for forty days. Jesus ate nothing during that time, and when those days were ended, he was very hungry. The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, tell this rock to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘A person does not live on bread alone.’ Then the devil took Jesus and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. The devil said to Jesus, “I will give you all these kingdoms and all their power and glory. It has all been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. If you worship me, then it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and put him on a high place of the Temple. He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump down. It is written in the Scriptures: ‘He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you.’ Psalm 91:11 It is also written: ‘They will catch you in their hands so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.’” Psalm 91:12 Jesus answered, “But it also says in the Scriptures: ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’” After the devil had tempted Jesus in every way, he left him to wait until a better time.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 08:13:03 +0000
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