29 July - Matthew 4

We’re reading Matthew chapter 4 together today. Here are a couple things to think about:

1. Immediately after Jesus was baptized (see Matthew 3) the Spirit of God led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil himself. Notice that God didn’t tempt Jesus; elsewhere in the Bible we learn that God will not tempt anyone to do evil. However, God does allow us to be tempted to strengthen our faith and relationship with him. 
2. Jesus began to preach after his time out in the desert. Did you notice that it was after God had provided an opportunity for Jesus to grow closer to him that Jesus started helping other people. Since Jesus is God he didn’t need to wait but he did. Perhaps it was to show us a pattern that God uses. Often it’s after times of great struggle we have the opportunity to help others in the same way but only after we’ve turn to God and grown closer to him.
3. Then Jesus called four guys to follow him and become his disciples. They were common blue collar workers not the religious elite like some would have expected. Honestly, we have the same expectations of who God wants to use today don’t we? We always think we aren’t “special” enough to be used by God and maybe he should pick someone else. But God wants to use everyone to show other people his love.

Have you ever thought God was tempting you? Today we talked about how God doesn’t tempt anyone to do wrong. Next time think of it as an opportunity to grow closer to God. Have you ever went through some really tough times and thought, why would God allow you to go through them? Maybe God was preparing you so you could help other people. Do you ever feel like God wants to use you to do something for him but give him the excuse that you’re not “special” enough? Well stop! God does want to use you and through you he will help lots of other people in this world; if you will only allow him to.