Scripture Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 highlights the offering of firstfruits, emphasizing gratitude, remembrance, and trust in God’s provision. Moses anticipated the day when Israel would enter and settle in the promised land. Worshipers were to bring their firstfruits to the place God appointed, acknowledging that all blessings come from Him.
At the temple entrance, they were to declare, “I have come to the land the LORD promised.” This verbal and physical act recognized God’s faithfulness. The offering, placed before the altar through the priest, was an act of worship – expressing love and trust, not mere obligation. May we recognize God’s provision in our lives.
The people were to recount their history – how God rescued them from Egypt and led them to the Promised Land remembering God’s faithfulness in the past. Gratitude is rooted in remembrance; we must never forget how God has been faithful in our lives. May we respond with worship and thanksgiving, living with a heart of gratitude.
God not only heard; he responded to Israel’s cries, bringing them out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. His compassionate purpose and the miraculous signs and wonder he gave became great terror to the oppressors. Just as God had promised, He would give his people this land, a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8,17).
At the conclusion of this time of confession and worship, other portions of the harvest were to be shared among the worshiper, the Levites and the foreigners among Israel so everyone could rejoice in the good things God had provided.
Verse 11 commands the people to rejoice and celebrate God’s provision. In our celebrations, true gratitude leads to generosity and hospitality. We are called to express our gratitude to God not just with words but through generous and joyful giving. As God blesses us, we are called to share with those in need, creating a community of thanksgiving.
Gratitude is not just about a one-time offering but a lifestyle. When we recognize God’s hand in our lives, we respond with joy, generosity, and worship. As seen in Romans 12:1, In Christ, may we offer our lives as a living sacrifice, continually giving thanks for His grace.
Today’s text, Luke 4, recounts the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness before the beginning of His public ministry. The movement from water of baptism to wilderness of temptation in Luke’s Gospel reflects the Christian journey. In baptism, Jesus is affirmed by the Father and empowered by the Spirit, surrounded by community.
Yet, He is then led into the wilderness – a place of testing, solitude, and dependence on God. Water symbolizes identity and calling, while the wilderness refines and strengthens faith and mission. Just as Jesus overcame temptation through God’s Word, may we cling to Scripture and trust in God, knowing our water and wilderness experiences sustain and develop us even in life’s trials.
Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
He faced real temptations, just as we do. Temptation often comes when we are weak, isolated, or vulnerable, but just as Jesus went into the wilderness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we may face trials even when we receive the great grace of God and are led by the Holy Spirit.
Even for those who humbly submit to God’s will and walk in the Word of God, there would be tests that are permitted for preparation, growth, and benefit. Because testing can be anywhere, we must always be equipped with the truth and spiritually alert.
Temptation may follow, even where we pray, worship, or do good, so we must always be watchful, praying for protection, striving to keep us safe, and overcoming wherever there is spiritual battle and testing. However, there is no need to be afraid, because God is always with us, and we can be armed with Scriptures. The word of God is the best weapon against temptation.
Sometimes we may be tempted, experience difficulties, and be influenced by them, but we can never become the possession of the devil. Because we are children of God, and the living Word of God works in our lives. Although the enemy distorts truth and tries to make sin seem appealing, the Holy Spirit strengthens and guides us, especially in times of testing.
In Luke 4, Jesus faced temptations about using power for the wrong purposes, serving the wrong master, and gaining popularity by performance. The first temptation of turning stones into bread targeted Jesus’ physical needs when He ate nothing for forty days. Jesus responded with Scripture, emphasizing that “One does not live by bread alone.” May we trust that God will provide for our needs in His time and way.
In the second temptation, the devil offered Jesus worldly power in exchange for worship. Jesus rejected it, affirming that worship belongs to God alone. May we worship God alone and guard against the temptation of idolatry – placing anything above God.
Lastly, the devil twisted Scripture to tempt Jesus into testing God’s protection through “jumping off the temple top”. Jesus refused, teaching us that faith does not mean forcing God to prove Himself. True faith trusts God without manipulation or doubt.
Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, but He remained faithful to God. Do we remember the waters of baptism and the wilderness of temptation in our life and faith journey? The waters of baptism, with the recognition and voice of God and the joy of community, and the wilderness of temptation, where we wrestled and fought alone, are both important moments for our lives and ministries.
Each time Jesus was tempted, He responded with Scripture, knowing and applying God’s Word is key to overcoming temptation. His victory in the wilderness prepared Him for His ministry of salvation. As seen in verse 13, the devil left Jesus until an opportune time. So, spiritual battles are ongoing, and we must remain vigilant.
Deuteronomy 26 calls Israel to remember God’s deliverance by offering their firstfruits as a testimony of God’s faithfulness. In Luke 4, Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness mirror Israel’s testing, yet Jesus remains faithful where they failed and hesitated. Both passages emphasize remembering God’s faithfulness – Israel in prosperity, Jesus in trial.
God’s Word is our strength in times of trial. Speaking and remembering God’s Word is essential – whether in worship or in times of struggle. Faithfulness to God leads to joy. When we rely on Him, whether in testing or in abundance, the joy of the Lord will be given to us in our faith journey
Worship is about recognizing who truly provides and sustains us – God alone. Jesus relied on Scripture in the wilderness, and the Israelites declared God’s faithfulness in their offerings. May we live by His Word all the time. Let us rely on God both in times of testing and in times of blessings. God is our provider. May we trust in God’s provision – whether in need or in abundance.
As we enter this sacred season of Lent, we are invited to journey with Jesus into the wilderness – a place of testing, reflection, and renewal. As we walk this path of faith, may we resist the temptations that pull us away from God and trust in His provision, knowing that the Lord alone is our strength and salvation.
Let us commit ourselves to this journey with open hearts, seeking to worship God alone, trust in His Word, offer our first and best to God, and grow in grace as we prepare for the joy of Easter. May we worship God in every season, express our gratitude, and live by the Word of God.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)