Broken Bread

Daily Devotions from the Daily Light
by Evan Hopkins




July 7

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.--Matt. 4:1

"Then,"--that is, immediately after His baptism by the Holy Ghost, Christ was annointed for service. This spiritual equiptment was intended for work and for conflict, for trial and temptation. So it must be with us. Times of special blessing, of peculiar spiritual enlightenment or enduement, are not intended for lives of inactivity or of ordinary duties. They are preperation for special service, for feirce conflict, for greater usefulness. It is the Holy Spirit who must lead. Even our Lord did not place Himself in these circumstances of trial. He was led of the Spirit. So we must be on our guard lest our trials or temptations are self-imposed. It is posssible to run before the Spirit. We may find ourselves in Scenes of alluring temptations, into which the Holy Ghost has never brought us. We have come there ourselves. This is to tempt God. But where the Spirit leads us, there will the Spirit clothe us. The whole armor of God is always available as long as we are led of the Spirit. And it is impenetrable.