The LORD God is the Creator of the ends of the earth. He has established laws in nature which govern all the processes of life–planting, growth, cultivation and harvest. These principles give us insight on how to conduct our lives, families, churches, and societies (to continue reading this essay, click on image above).
The Temptation of Christ, Luke 4.1-13
The Holy Spirit, who filled Jesus without measure, provided him with guidance, strength, and help during his forty days of wilderness temptation. Led by the Spirit into this desolate place, Jesus faced three distinct challenges from the devil targeting his physical needs, pursuit of authority, and his trust in God’s promises. Through each trial, Jesus relied not on his divine nature but on the written Word of God, demonstrating complete dependence on the Father rather than yielding to self-sufficiency or shortcuts to his messianic mission. Jesus overcame the devil’s wilderness testing, and proved his readiness for his messianic ministry, establishing for us a pattern of spiritual victory through reliance on Scripture and submission to God’s will rather than human desires.
Invocation
Holy Spirit, who filled Jesus completely and led him through wilderness testing, fill us with your wisdom and power as we face our own seasons of temptation and trial. Guide us to the truths of Scripture when the enemy offers us shortcuts, self-sufficiency, or spectacle in place of faithful obedience. Strengthen our resolve to honor the Father alone with undivided devotion, trusting his provision and timing even when our immediate circumstances seem uncertain. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Chronological Scripture Readings for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the entire Bible in one year in chronological order.
Sunday: 1 Sam. 2-4
Lectionary Readings for Today
Our readings from the Psalms, the Old Testament, the Gospels and the Epistles are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary for this Feast Day.
Psalm: Psalm 91.1-2,9-16
Old Testament (or Acts [during Eastertide]): Deut. 26.1-11
Gospel: Luke 4.1-13
New Testament: Rom. 10.8b-13
Click here for all of this week’s Scripture readings
Psalms and Proverb for Today
These Scriptures allow us to read through the Psalms and Proverbs each month.
Sunday: Psalm 9, 39, 69, 99, 129 and Proverbs 9
God’s provision during temptation.
The Holy Spirit, who filled Jesus without measure, provided him with guidance, strength, and help during his forty days of wilderness temptation, Luke 4.1-13.
Reflection
The Spirit’s provision during Jesus’ temptation shows how divine guidance may lead us not away from trials but through them, with the Spirit’s purpose and power. When we face temptations targeting our physical needs, desire for influence, or testing of God’s faithfulness, the Word of God effectively defends against distorted thinking and misplaced priorities. The Spirit’s presence doesn’t exempt us from struggle but equips us to maintain integrity and faithfulness even when easier paths appear attractive or logical. By following Jesus’ example of relying on Scripture and maintaining unwavering loyalty to God alone, we develop spiritual maturity that prepares us for greater service and effectiveness in our calling.
Engaging God’s Word Today
In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing the temptation to take matters into your own hands rather than waiting for God’s provision and timing? What particular Scripture could guide your response in these situations?
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,
Begotten of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
Begotten not created, of the same essence as the Father,
through Whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became human.
Who for us too, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
The third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver,
Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Who together with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sin,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the age to come. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
Heavenly Father, may you sustain us as you sustained Jesus through forty days of wilderness testing. Equip us with every spiritual resource we need for our current struggles. May the written Word become alive in our hearts as we encounter the enemy’s deceptions, giving us both clarity and conviction when facing difficult choices. Help us to emerge from every spiritual battle stronger in faith, more dependent on your Spirit, and better prepared for the unique purpose you have designed for our lives. Amen.
Scripture Memory for this season
Ecclesiastes 3.1-2 (ESV):
1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;”
Scripture Engagement
As disciples of Jesus, the Churches of Christ the King strongly seek to engage the Scriptures to discover the centrality of Christ and his Kingdom in the prophetic and apostolic writings. You will find a rich treasure of resources on engaging Scripture at the Center for Scripture Engagement of Taylor University.
Book Reading and Reflection
In a world that victimizes us by its compulsions, we are called to solitude where we can struggle against our anger and greed and let our new self be born in the loving encounter with Jesus Christ. It is in this solitude that we become compassionate people, deeply aware of our solidarity in brokenness with all of humanity and ready to reach out to anyone in need.
The end of Anthony’s story shows him, after years of compassionate ministry, returning to his solitude to be totally absorbed in direct communion with God. One of the desert stories tells us about a certain old man who asked God to let him see the Fathers. God heard his prayer and the old man saw them all except Anthony. “So he asked his guide, ‘Where is Abba Anthony?’ He told him in reply that in the place where God is, there Anthony would be.”11 It is very important for us to realize that Anthony concluded his life in total absorption in God. The goal of our life is not people. It is God. Only in him shall we find the rest we seek. It is therefore to solitude that we must return, not alone, but with all those whom we embrace through our ministry. This return continues until the time when the same Lord who sent us into the world calls us back to be with him in a never-ending communion.”
~ Nouwen, Henri J. M., The Way of the Heart: Connecting with God through Prayer, Wisdom and Silence. Ballantine Books (A Penguin Random House Company), New York City, NY: 2003. Electronic Edition, Location 314.
Seedling Focus for the Season: A Time for Everything
Description: Just as there are seasons in nature, there are seasons in our spiritual journey, Ecc. 3.1-2.
On Eagles Wings Prayer Focus: A Long Time Comin‘
Jesus Anointed at Bethany, John 12.1-8.
Visit our Church App for more information: Scan the QR Code below (if you have difficulty loading the app, click here for instructions how to get the app on your iPhone or Android)
