Our Desert
There are many world leaders who, if offered the chance to take over another country, would not turn it down. The desire for power, comfort, and control can be and is a strong temptation.
In our Gospel this week, Jesus shows us a very different way. Before He performs a single miracle, teaches those willing to listen to him, or gathers followers, He is led by the Holy Spirit into the desert. Why would he do this? The simple answer is that the desert offers a time of preparation.
In the Bible, the desert is the place where God shows us love, strengthens our trust and teaches us that we can depend on him. Jesus goes into the wilderness to confront temptation directly in a very human way. He chooses not to take food with Him—not because He wishes to suffer for the sake of suffering, but because fasting helps Him focus entirely on the Father. It becomes a reminder that “We do not live by bread alone.”
When Jesus is tempted, He answers not with clever arguments or displays of power, but with the quiet strength of God’s Word. He shows us that temptation is not something to fear, because God equips us to face it. Temptation often comes when we are tired, hungry, stressed, or stretched thin—just as Jesus was in the desert. But He reminds us that when we stand rooted in God, we are not alone in our struggles.
Jesus’ time in the wilderness is a comforting truth for us: He understands what it is to be tempted.
He knows what it is to be hungry, tired, or stretched. And He has already gone ahead of us, showing that temptation can be met with trust, courage, and the confidence of God’s presence.
May this week be a time of pausing, listening, and remembering that God strengthens us even in our deserts—and often, especially there.
Clint Ramoo – Finance Committee Chair
