Daily Devotion for March 9, 2025

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Matthew 4:1-11.

I believe Jesus was fully human, so he had to wrestle with some of the same issues we do. He had to discern what it meant to represent God in this world. I believe that testing and discernment continued throughout his ministry, all the way to his death on the cross.  

This scene of testing at the beginning of his ministry gives us a glimpse into the temptations he faced all along. The first temptation has at least two ways to think about what he was confronting. Would he focus on just meeting his own needs and would he just focus on meeting the physical needs of people (feeding them, healing them, etc.)? Secondly, would just focus on doing miracles for people, drawing crowds of followers to see what he would do next? And third, would he give in to the temptation to rule politically, to seek the halls of power in this world? He rejected all of those temptations. He still invites those who would seek to represent God in this day and time to reject them as well.   

Personal Worship Option:

Plan to join us in one of our worship services today. Worshipping together with other Christians is a vital part of what it means to be the people of Christ. And if there is room in your vehicle, bring somebody with you!