God in the Wild- Part 1

Join us as we journey with Jesus as he is tested in the wilderness.

Scripture: Luke 4:1-2

After fasting for 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus is pushed to his physical limits before facing temptation from the Devil. However, it's essential to note that the author Luke emphasizes that although it's the Devil who is tempting Jesus, it's God who is guiding him. This is evident through Luke's repetition of Jesus being "full of the Spirit" and "led by the Spirit." In simpler terms, this challenging experience was part of God's plan; it wasn't a mistake on Jesus' part.

This holds significance for many of us who may question our faith during spiritually "dry" periods when we feel like we're just going through the motions. According to this passage, it's possible to feel spiritually "empty" while still being led by the Spirit in reality. Through these 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus reenacts a part of Israel's history when they were tested in the wilderness for 40 years. In doing so, Jesus shows us how to remain faithful, devoted, and prayerful even when it seems like our faith isn't flourishing.

In fact, the call of God, as seen when He rescued His people from Egyptian slavery, was for them to "worship Him in the wilderness" (Exodus 5:1, 7:16, 8:1), not just when everything is going smoothly in a temple with uplifting music. Therefore, it's not always true that spiritual growth can only occur under ideal conditions. Jesus challenges this notion by demonstrating how one can face temptation, experience spiritual dryness, and still maintain a worshipful attitude, no matter the circumstances.

Study Questions:

1.) What has your wilderness journey been like?

2.) What is the hardest part of feeling “spiritually dry” to you?

3.) What is God teaching you through these moments?

4.) What practices have you found helpful in your journey through the wilderness?

5.) In what ways do you struggle with spiritual practices such as prayer, worship, or meditation becoming “moments” in your life rather than habits?

“Everybody prays whether he thinks of it as praying or not. The odd silence you fall into when something very beautiful is happening or something very good or very bad... Whatever words or sounds you use for sighing with over your own life. These are all prayers in their way”- Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC