Scripture: Mark 1:10-13 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son and with you I am well pleased.’ At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.
Observation This is a profoundly spiritual time: The Spirit comes, the Father speaks, the Son is baptized, the Spirit sends Jesus into the desert, and Satan shows up. I wonder what those on the shore of the Jordan river observed. I wonder what someone who observed Jesus in the desert would have thought. Reality is so spiritual; we only see the physical. (See also v26, 34, 39.)
Applications I am not aware of the spiritual things. I don’t see people as souls who are being formed for eternity. I don’t see the reality of angels and demons fighting each other for the souls of people. Yet this takes place all sound me, every day. But I don’t see it!
Life application for today Think on it. Open your eyes and consider the spiritual forces that may be at work in any given situation.
Prayer Father, open my eyes that I may know you, recognize your work, hear your voice, and see the battle around me. And help me to act accordingly.