JANUARY 4, 2024

 “When we set about accounting for a Napoleon or a Shakespeare or a Raphael or a Wagner or an Edison or other extraordinary person, we understand that the measure of his talent will not explain the whole result, nor even the largest part of it; no, it is the atmosphere in which the talent was cradled that explains; it is the training it received while it grew, the nurture it got from reading, study, example, the encouragement it gathered from self-recognition and recognition from the outside at each stage of its development: when we know all these details, then we know why the man was ready when his opportunity came.” 

― Mark Twain

GENESIS 9-11

6“Whoever sheds human blood,

by humans shall their blood be shed;

for in the image of God

has God made mankind.(9:6)

MATTHEW 4

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^a by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

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

JOURNAL 

The spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted. So God led him to a place where he would be challenged. This is training, this is testing, this is what any good coach and every good athlete accepts and does themselves. Willing to encounter difficulty and face your enemies and face challenges. This is how we were designed to grow and learn. God is raising up Jesus, he is training him for the challenges that will come.

This is the nature of all challenges.  We are not designed to live in comfort and ease, we rather are made to face challenges and solve problems. That is how we grow and that is how we experience true joy. Through encountering challenges and solving problems. The more I see the world that way, the more I am less conflicted by the challenges and rather can see them as critical and crucial to my growth and my joy. 

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

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

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

MATTHEW 4:8-11