From:
Date: January 14, 2021
Subject: It's January 14; Good Morning Union


Luke 4

“This is why I was sent.”         Vs43

When my calling is clear my purpose and plans make sense. Jesus understood His calling. This chapter starts with His temptations in the wilderness, from which He emerged victorious because He had focus, and ends with Him identifying His calling in life, demonstrated by clarity in His actions.

First the temptations. Three times He was tempted; three times He was victorious because three times He turned only to His recall of Scripture. What a great lesson! I can’t battle the devil or I’ll lose; but I can turn to God’s word and find victory like He did. David understood this concept nearly a thousand years before Jesus! “Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11.

I’ve never been tempted with any of the three things Satan threw at Jesus but His answers are still the answers I need to remember as I face my own challenges when the devil strikes at me:

  1. Focus on the Word- “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
  2. Focus on Him- “Worship the Lord only, and serve Him only.”
  3. Focus on His will- “Do not put the Lord to the test.”

With those three responses Jesus resisted the devil. And as James says,

  1. “Submit yourself to God,
  2. Resist the devil and he will flee from you,
  3. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”     (4:7)

Jesus did as James said and He was victorious. I’m guessin’ the same process still applies for me. I don’t hope for enough strength as I put myself in Satan’s ways. I draw near to Him, focus on His Word, focus on Him, and focus on His will and watch the devil flee and the Lord become clearer and clearer.

Have a great and victorious day,

Pastor Rich

 

Quote for the day:      “I believe that appreciation is a holy thing—that when we look for what’s best in a person we happen to be with at the moment, we’re doing what God does all the time. So, in loving and appreciating our neighbor we’re participating in something sacred.” Fred Rogers

PS        NO uGather- this week so we can use this time when no one has classes to continue our COVID testing. Check the schedule and use this “free time” to get your test taken care of.

PPS      Don’t forget to pick up your HeartScan form in Campus Ministries if  you are interested in being a part of our spiritual mentoring program this semester.