Our scripture this week is Mark 1:9-13, taken today from the New King James Version (NKJV).
It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
The scripture tells us “the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness” (v. 13), but we know that faith is never forced upon us. Instead, we must accept His will and act from obedience and love. Jesus had such a close relationship with God that it was impossible for Him not to do what the Heavenly Father asked.
We need to understand that while Jesus was in fact God with us, He was also fully human, capable of putting His own will ahead of God’s plan if He chose to do so. However, unlike us, Jesus never acted from a selfish desire, showing us that God’s way is always better than ours. He is our savior, teacher, and example.
While we can never be perfect as Jesus is, we can strive to be like Him and show the world God’s love by doing His will. While obedience to God means yielding our human desires to Him, it is out of His love for us that we are saved. We pray as Jesus taught us “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.
Loving Lord, we are often willful people, doing what we want rather than what You call us to do. Forgive our blind disobedience and lead us to Your salvation. Amen.