THEN JESUS was led (guided) by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil. (Matthew 4:1 AMP) Sometimes God leads us into the desert by His Spirit! No question about that. The desert, just so we’re clear we’re not talking about the literal desert, although we can literally be led to go into the desert like the Mohave or Sahara, is the dry, empty and lonely place in our lives. Also, with those markers I just mentioned, a desert is a place or period in your life that is difficult and extremely hard to endure. What I am saying is that sometimes we find ourselves in those circumstances through no fault of our own. That is to say that God brought us there. The question most of us ask is “why?” Why did God lead me here to this barren, life sucking place where there is nobody and no help? The question most of should be asking is, “what’s on the other side?” What is on the other side of the desert? Let’s forget for a second that we over dramatize our lives in belief that we are the main characters of our own narratives; but really, once we get over the initial shock of being in the desert, we shouldn’t be wallowing for being there, but looking for how we can grow out of it. Jesus went to the desert and was tempted. The translation puts synonyms of temptation are “testing” and “trying,” implying that Jesus was led there to overcome something and/or to be purified. However, Jesus was already sinless, He was the spotless lamb. The only thing/being that could tempt Jesus was the devil himself. That is to say that the only impurities from Jesus’ heart would only be exposed if the devil worked to expose them. We know from this story that there was no impurity because the devil failed in tempting Jesus. At the end of the day, Jesus walked away and lived a fruitful life. Perhaps we are led into the desert because there are impurities in us that need to be exposed in us. Maybe the devil doesn’t need to tempt us because we tempt ourselves. And the only place to recognize that is in a desert. If this is the case, then what should we really be doing when finding ourselves exhausted and alone in the wilderness? What should we be getting ready to do when we reach the other side of the desert? What is holding us back from getting to the other side? We are led into the desert for a reason. Sometimes we’re led into a desert by God so that we can grow for the next THING in our lives. What questions do you NEED to answer while you’re here?
No responses yet