Daily Devotion for January 6, 2024

 

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read John 6:12-15.

Matthew and Luke are the Gospel writers who give us some of the details of the temptations Jesus dealt with right after he was baptized and before he began his time with his disciples. One of those temptations was an offer to rule the kingdoms of this world. I can understand why that must have been tempting. After all, if he was to be the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” one might think it logical that he would be the ruler of all the world. But in that time of wrestling with his temptations, he realized that his kingdom was not of this world.

Luke is the one who tells us that “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” I then note that John is the only Gospel writer who gives us a detail at the end of the scene where Jesus feeds the 5,000 plus. In verse 15, we read of his awareness that the people wanted to make him king, so he went away by himself. He had already thought about, prayed about and engaged that temptation, so when it confronted him in a real-life situation, he was ready and knew what to do - leave.

When you and I spend time in prayer and keep an open connection with the Holy Spirit, we will be better prepared to deal with temptations and other situations that arise in our everyday life. Maybe the simplest way to put it is this: if you don’t prepare, don’t expect to be prepared.

Personal Worship Option:

I am reminded of a prayer song written by Clara Scott in 1895 that I offer again for you to consider praying today:

Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me; place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.

Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear; and while the wave-notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see. Open my (mind), illumine me, Spirit divine!