Stay Steadfast

Note: And so it begins! With the official kick-off of Oasis this past Wednesday, things seem to be looking up! But along with the official kick-off comes a really difficult season that requires steadfastness and a hunger for God. As summer went on, my desire to see revival and passion to know God only intensified. But once school came around, complacency hit, and the spiritual attacks have been relentless. Laziness, impatience, annoyance. And my desire slowly faded away. Ditch efforts to "know God more" only remained until I looked at myself and realized how much I needed God. It was with today's passage that I was struck with revelation.

READ --

- Matthew 4

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DEVOTIONAL --

Let's take this apart piece by piece. Matthew 4:1-11 explains the temptation of Jesus. Jesus was fasting for forty days and forty nights when the devil came to attack him with temptation. With each testing, however, Jesus responded with the Scripture. As I read this, I realized, "How can I fight off the devil when I do not study the Scripture?" How easy it is to wander when you don't have the Bible to guide your feet. I realized that this is the root of my waywardness; because of my inconsistencies in reading the Word, I've allowed my heart to grow far from God. It is through knowledge of the Scripture that I will truly become grounded, anchored, and unshakable because I know God's promises, what God thinks of me, who God is, and who He calls me to be.

In Matthew 4:18-25, Jesus begins to choose his first disciples. Among them are Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Between these two sets of brothers though, there is something in common -- a willing heart. They are teachable, obedient, and willing. In verse 19, Jesus says simply, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" and they immediately left their nets to follow Jesus. Now preceding verse 19, it explains that Simon Peter and Andrew had fished for a living. For a living. Imagine giving up everything to follow Jesus. This is what he calls us to do anyways. It's not just for "extreme" Christians or "radical", "over-the-top", crazy Jesus-lovers. It's for everybody. "They left their nets at once". In verse 21 and 22, Jesus calls to James and John as well and they "immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind".

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REFLECT --

- How important is reading the Word to you? Where do you prioritize it in your everyday life?

- Is it easy for you to give into temptation? Why or why not?

- Would you follow Jesus if he called you to leave everything?

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PRAY --

God, I love you, and I know that Your Word is true. I know that Your Word is precious and important, so help me to be steadfast. Help me to read Your Word, and give me a heart to understand and interpret what You say. Give me a desire and a hunger to know You. Help me to surrender my life to You as well; You deserve it all. I love you.