Daily Devotional

-July 12, 2021-

Good morning, happy Monday,

-The Value And Priority Of The Word –

“But He answered him and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

(Matthew 4:4).

We have all read many books in our lives, good books, including commentaries, devotionals, and other outstanding Christian books. As good as they are, they can cannot compare to the Bible. God’s Word is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The Scriptures are our source of knowledge, understanding, wisdom, encouragement, guidance, truth, and love. There are commandments to obey, principles to live by, and promises to claim. We must read it and practice it in our daily lives. We should always delight in it, for God speaks to our hearts through it.

In today’s text, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This event took place right after His baptism and before He began His earthly ministry. He fasted for 40 days and forty nights. He was weak in a physical sense but strong in a spiritual sense. Notice the three key words, “He was hungry.” God designed our bodies to eat food for our nutrition. We all know how a lack of food affects us. We get distracted, irritable, impatient, and just plain cranky.

The devil tempted Jesus three times, and each time our Savior answered him from the Word of God. The lesson we learn from this is that in order to defeat the devil we must use the Word. Of the all parts our spiritual armor that we put on, the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, is our only offensive weapon. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and narrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It cuts deep in conviction, as well as providing instruction and guidance. The devil never stood a chance. In the analogy of baseball, the devil threw his three best pitches: a fastball, slider, and a curve; Jesus hit each for a home run.

Man does not live by bread alone, that is the earthly things of life. They only afford temporal pleasure and benefit. God’s Word on the other hand, proceeds out of His mouth and provides eternal benefits. Jesus said to the people in John 6:27, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

How well do you know your Bible? How skillful are you at sharing it with others? How adept are you at quoting and also knowing where to find things in it? Paul told Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Let us then spend much time in prayer and in the Word. May we skillful to use it in our lives and to share it with others. We need to tell the devil to get behind us in the name of Jesus and the power of His shed blood. When we stand on the Word, the devil won’t have a leg to stand on. James wrote, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Have a blessed day in the Word using it wisely and skillfully, powerfully and humbly. Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean