Transformed in the Wilderness

When the heat's on, when we find ourselves under unbearable pressures in life as we sometimes do, it seems to go on forever. It's excruciating. When will this end?! Diamonds, which are so highly prized in this world, are formed deep within the Earth's mantle, some 190 kilometres or 120 miles below the surface. It happens under extreme pressure and temperatures – we're talking 60,000 times atmospheric pressure, and 1,300 degrees Celsius (or 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit) in an excruciatingly slow process Eventually, volcanic eruptions then transport the diamonds to the surface through kimberlite pipes, where they can be mined and enjoyed by us. Yesterday we saw how God threw Jesus out into the desert – remember, it was His decision to do that to His beloved Son! Mark 1:12-13 … the Spirit sent Jesus [literally threw Him out] into the desert alone. He was there for 40 days, being tempted by Satan. During this time he was out among the wild animals. Okay, Jesus survived. But how did He come out the other end of this horrendous time of heat and pressure? Answer … Luke 4:14-15 [He] went back to Galilee with the power of the Spirit. Stories about him spread all over the area around Galilee. He began to teach in the synagogues, and everyone praised him. He came out of it, He launched into His public ministry with what? The power of the Holy Spirit. It seems to be God's habit to forge His very best – be it a diamond or a character – under heat and pressure. And when you're in that wilderness, time passes at an excruciatingly slow pace. But hang in there, cooperate with God, and you'll come out of it with the power of the Holy Spirit. That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.