After His baptism and before the start of His ministry on earth, the incarnate Son of God walked into the wilderness, no food or drink in hand. He fasted forty days and forty nights, Scripture tells us, and then “the tempter approached him” (Matthew 4:3). Hungry and thirsty and holding no tangible thing of value, Jesus was tempted to take hold of power, to test the Father’s love for Him, to make for Himself a feast of bread to satiate His languishing body. When His human weakness was met with temptation, how did He respond? Using the words of Scripture, He turned to the Father.
Instead of reaching out for what the world would say He needed, Jesus clung to what He couldn’t live without: “He answered, ‘It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Rather than yielding to the devil’s enticements, Jesus yielded Himself to the Father and glorified Him: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him” (v.10).
Our culture views empty-handedness as the lowliest of conditions. We are trained to find our worth in usefulness and status, and to seek joy in our possessions. On the off chance we look down to find our hands empty, we quickly scoop up something to hold on to—some bit of work or wealth, some duty or distraction to busy our bodies and entertain our minds. But this hands-full gospel is not the message of Jesus.
Lent is a season where we once again remember that our hope and strength are found in nothing but the cross of Christ. By engaging in daily Scripture reading, prayer, confession, and repentance in these weeks leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, we retrain our hearts to embrace the salvation we cannot earn. We came empty-handed when we first gave our lives to Him, and we have nothing of our own as we return to Him now—only what He has freely and graciously given us.
This forty-day walk into the wilderness will bring us face to face with the depth of our lack, our human frailty, and our sin. But it will bring us to the cross, where our High Priest, who modeled perfect dependence on the Father, will show us the cost of our forgiveness in the marks on His body, even as He invites us to receive mercy.
Lent is an invitation to put down everything we have picked up in order to take hold of the only One who can truly satisfy our heart’s deepest longings. It is a call to turn back, and experience a season of refreshing for our souls (Acts 3:19). Come with open hands, and freely receive (Isaiah 55).
I’m so excited to begin this study! I’ve just recently become at stay at home mom and have really been struggling with letting a career and it’s financial safety net go. The Lord has proven many times that I am right where I need to be and that HE is the only provider we need. Matthew 4:4 spoke to me so loudly! ❤️
Yes! Feast on his word. But in addition to extra time for scripture and prayer that will allow us to draw close to God, we should also concentrate on our small acts of kindness i.e. how we can be more Christ like. I teach a 4th grade Sunday School class and yesterday we talked about ways we can show God’s love everyday. It may be writing a letter or calling a grandparent or one of the shut-ins from church, saying or smiling at the quiet kid at school, helping someone anonymously – in their case it may be helping a sibling pick up toys without being asked. In our case, maybe we buy the coffee for the person behind us in the drive thru or help an older person we see struggling to carry groceries. Look for ways to show God’s love everyday. Not only will this fill your own “tank” with joy but you change the world for the better one small acts at a time.
I’m confused on how the physical copy of the study/ digital app study copy / online website version differs. Just price? If I buy the digital version via the app, is that going to give me more than the “preview” the app shows you daily?
Truth bomb: Our culture views empty-handedness as the lowliest of conditions.” Conviction.
En este tiempo con Dios espero conocer más de él!!! De su palabra, trabajar en mi fe hacia Dios.
Que Dios te bendiga!
Que Dios te bendiga! Dios nos tiene en sus manos y estamos unidos por El. Animo! ♥️
My prayer for lent is that I will stop looking to what the world says I need, and look to the Father who has everything and exactly what I need. I find hope in the fact that when I feel physically or emotionally empty handed, that my spirit is always full.
God bless you, jenn!
Well said, thank you.
Same Jenn ❤️
❤️
Jenn, you said it so perfectly! With all that is going on economically due to the pandemic, I’m struggling with giving over to God control over my finances and desires for unnecessary things and possessions. I just prayed this morning for God to help me feel fulfilled in his Word and his love…and then I found this app and devotional. He is an on time God!
I love this day. It is definitely causing a heart shift for me to think of all the stuff I pick up on a day to day basis. Even the stuff I’m trying to please God with. He does need that. He wants me to come to him every day with a heart open.
Anyone giving up anything for Lent?
Social media- face book and insta… and meat on Fridays… it really does make me stop and realize how often I “pick something up” whether it’s my phone or some kind of food, to fill that emptiness and loneliness that is the condition of the human heart- the human heart without God that is!
Very similarly – social media & food on Wednesday’s…
May the Lord be our sustainer and May it be Him who we look to fill our every need and desire!!
Nighttime TV (starting at 5PM). It’ll be my 3rd year doing it. Instead of mindlessly binging on Netflix, I “find time” to read, pray, and catch up on things.