Day 5: Testing & Trusting
Day 5, February 22
by Norma Flores Lovett
Readings:
Reflection:
After reading the scriptures, you can watch the video of this devotional reading HERE.
Lent is a time of testing. The story of Jesus being tested in the wilderness is how God decided to show us if Jesus was really going to trust in his Father. The test was whether Jesus was going to bring the kingdom in God’s way or the world’s way. It’s interesting that the first test comes first in a very human way for us…our daily bread. “Surely you’re hungry? If you really are God’s son, surely He wouldn’t want you to be hungry, right?” What does Jesus do? He responds with scripture. Jesus responds as if he were going through the story of the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus is the one who represents the restoration of the people of God. Jesus's spending 40 days in the wilderness is like the Israelites' spending 40 years in the wilderness. In the wilderness, the Israelites were being taught to rely on God, but they were constantly grumbling because things were not going the way they thought they should. It was hard. Life is hard sometimes, and I also grumble. So in Matthew 4, Jesus is succeeding where Israel failed. Jesus is highlighting his trust in God, his Father, from the beginning of the gospel of Matthew until the end of the gospel when he cried, “God, why have you abandoned me? Jesus’s whole life was dependent on God.
This is a challenging example for me. When challenges come our way, our goal is to fully trust in God like Jesus did. Relying on God our Father is difficult, but it is also rewarding. This fallen world we live in is challenging. We will finish the race by relying on God, following the example of Jesus, and fighting the lies/accusations with scripture.
Song:
Psalm 84, by Poor Bishop Hooper
Content for wisdom and contentment at: urenuf.life
Song on Spotify: Psalm 84, by Poor Bishop Hooper
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