Devotions

Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness, but He didn’t give in to the distractions and lies that sought to turn Him away from God’s true provision. Just as Jesus rejected the temptation to serve a false god and instead remained focused on His Father’s will, we are called to stay focused on the true God, who provides for us, even in our moments of struggle.

Jesus gets baptized anyway because he always leads the way—going before us into the new life God gives. Jesus is our Leader and our Savior—and he will walk with us through every new challenge we face, until the day he takes us home to be with him forever.

So many immigrants and refugees work in jobs like the shepherds did, though in their home countries they may have been doctors or military commanders. But here they may be looked down on, just as the shepherds were on that first Christmas.

It takes endurance to leave your original home and ultimately end up in America. It takes courage and strength to walk through deserts and over mountains; to travel by boat; or to apply for programs that, years later, result in a plane flight to St. Louis and a new life.

Jesus warned people that following would cost them. Refugees and immigrants understand these costs better than most Americans born here do. They may have experienced homelessness as they fled war zones or lived in refugee camps. We all can join in helping them!