Matthew 4

This devotional is written by Katherine Evans.

Jesus is tested in the wilderness
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’

4 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the temple. 6 ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written:

‘“He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”’

7 Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’

10 Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”’

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus begins to preach
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali – 14 to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 ‘Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles –
16 the people living in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
    a light has dawned.’

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’

Jesus calls his first disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus heals the sick
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and illness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralysed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[g] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Often we already have a plan for our lives. We pray for the things we want and we pray for help overcoming the things getting in the way of our plan. But are we really listening to God's calling for our life?

In this passage, Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him. Immediately, they dropped everything and followed him. They didn't pray for a different calling or question God. They trusted in His plan for their life.

I know I myself have been guilty of ignoring God's calling on my life. For years, so many people told me I should be a teacher. But in my head I was going to do something new and exciting that no one in my family had done before. When that didn't work out, I spent months applying for other jobs, all the while hearing God tell me to train to teach and ignoring it. It didn't fit my plan so I fought back, applying for jobs I didn't really want, until I was feeling hopeless and God called me one more time to teaching. When I eventually pushed on that door and trusted God, the door opened with such ease and has brought me so much joy, growth and opportunity.

God has a plan for our lives and we all have a calling. Those first disciples followed Jesus, no questions asked, and the experience was life-changing. What's holding you back from following God's calling? Pray about it, and then take the leap of faith. Waiting will only delay the joy and growth that lies ahead of you.