Into the Wilderness

The morning’s exhortation was shaped by two strong realities: grief, and hope. We have all felt the weight of our brother Ron’s passing, a long-time member of the Riverwood ecclesia, and we especially hold close those who are mourning as family. The reminder from the Psalms is both sobering and comforting: our lives are brief like grass and a field flower, but the steadfast love of the Lord stretches from everlasting to everlasting. The call was simple and practical: let’s make that steadfast love real for the Steele family in the weeks and months ahead.

From there, the focus moved into Matthew, with a theme drawn from the opening chapters: “into the wilderness”. Matthew records so much of Jesus’ early life, but what stands out is what happens straight after his baptism. John the Baptist, a man shaped by years in the wilderness, finally sees the one he has been waiting for. Jesus is baptised, and as he prays, heaven opens, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the

Father’s voice declares, “You are my beloved Son. With you I am well pleased.”

And yet, the next step is surprising. If humans were writing the plan, we might stage that

declaration in front of crowds and dignitaries, then roll straight into public miracles. Instead, the Spirit immediately leads, even drives, Jesus into the wilderness. A lonely place. No crowds. No audience. Just wild country, fasting, and forty days of solitude.Why? Because Jesus was about to be tempted, and the temptation would strike at the heart of sonship: “If you are the Son of God…” Prove it. Use your God-given power for

yourself. Turn stones into bread. Later, on the cross, the challenge would return: “If you are the Son of God, come down.” Jesus’ ministry is framed by the same pressure, the pull to self-preservation instead of faithful obedience.

So what was Jesus doing in the wilderness? He was filling his mind with Scripture, praying, and strengthening his relationship with his Father. Again and again throughout his ministry, he returned to “wilderness” places, solitary places, to be alone with God. The point is not the geography. It is the space. Quiet. Unhurried. Undistracted. That hits home, because when life gets busy, this is often what slips first. Not the

commitments, not the deadlines, not the meals or the travel, but the quiet time with God. The encouragement was to be intentional: early morning, late evening, a walk, the car pulled over, the back deck, wherever we can be alone with God and open his word. Every one of us needs this, whatever our personality or season of life.

The talk closed by linking this to being “led by the Spirit”. In Acts, the word often carries the idea of setting sail, launching out. How often do we stay tied up in the harbour of life, too busy to let God’s wind fill the sails? Romans 8 gives the marker: those led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. And our confidence is anchored in this: Jesus was declared the Son of God with power by his resurrection. The same Spirit that raised him can give life to us too. In a week of loss, that is not vague comfort. It is a solid hope, and it calls us to keep stepping into the quiet wilderness places where faith is formed.