Living the Christian life is not always easy. If fact, most times it is not. We face all sorts of trials, temptations, and hard choices every day.
People sometimes reject us because we are Christians. And sometimes, they place all kinds of unreasonable expectations on us.
In this passage, you see Jesus experiencing all these things.
How was he able to handle it all?
You might say, “Well, of course, he was God. That’s how he did it! It was easy for him.”
But don’t forget, when Jesus came to this earth, he became a man in every way. And that means he wasn’t relying on his own divine knowledge and power to overcome all his problems. (Just look at verses 2-3 for example).
Instead, he looked to his Father for guidance and relied on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Note what it says about Jesus in this chapter. Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit,” “led by the Spirit,” and did ministry “in the power of the Spirit.”
If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to do that, how much more do we need to?
How often, though, do we do things in our own wisdom? In our own strength? And then we wonder why we struggle every day.
Father, lead me today as you led your Son. Fill me with your love each day. Help me to see what you’re doing. Help me to join in with your work.
Holy Spirit, fill me, lead me, and empower me as you did with Jesus when he was on earth. I need you today and every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 