Comfort or Character

Matt 4:4 “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  In this first temptation Jesus had been in the desert for forty days and nights and was hungry.  He was in a difficult place and it was within his power to relieve his physical difficulty.  The devil tempts Jesus to be disobedient to God and to miss the whole point of why God led him out there by His Holy Spirit in the first place.  None of us like discomfort, especially here in the West.  In fact, we would do almost anything to keep from being too uncomfortable.  But do we ever stop to wonder why God has us in this position in the first place?  Romans 8:28 tells us,  ^“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  We do not usually know what it is God wants to accomplish in our lives.  God can use even our most difficult periods to work for our good.  We do not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.  As we deny ourselves this Lent, instead of trying to relieve our discomfort maybe we should ask what God wants to do in us or through us in any given circumstance.  What spiritual growth does God desire?  How can we cooperate with God to get the most out the situation, not for us, but for His purpose?

Lord, make me a vessel that you can use.  Do with me what you will.  Work in me as you see fit.  Forgive me for being more concerned about my comfort than I am about my spiritual growth or accomplishing your purposes.  Thank you for loving me so much that you are more concerned about my character and my spirit than you are about my comfort.  Amen.