-July 13, 2022-
Good morning, happy Wednesday,
“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
(Matthew 4:4).
Before Jesus could begin His earthly ministry He had to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness, and be tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record it. He went forty days and forty nights without food. Physically, He was at His weakest point. This is why experts do not recommend shopping when you are hungry. We tend to buy more, and more of the wrong things. Pastor and author Charles Stanley adds to the list tired, sleepy, and angry, which make for very bad conditions for making good decisions.
We know that Jesus is the Son of God and knew no sin, did no sin, and there was no sin in Him; thus the devil had no chance in this temptation. Unlike us sinners, we are prone to the devil’s attacks. The Lord used the Word of God in all three of temptations to answer the devil. He did this to show us how to use God’s Word as our greatest offensive weapon alongside prayer. All the other weapons of the armor of God are defensive.
The very first temptation is for Jesus to meet His own needs by proving His divinity and commanding that the stones be turned into bread to eat. Someone once said, “The devil is most dangerous with a Bible in his hands.” He knows the Bible better than anyone of us, and he knows how to misquote and manipulate it to serve his own purposes. Notice how the cults use a little truth sandwiched between two slices of error.
Jesus did not engage the the devil in a spiritual or theological debate, but rather said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Jesus used the Sword of the Spirit to thwart the devil. The devil tried twice more to tempt Jesus, all to no avail. Jesus answered the next two the same way using the Scriptures. The devil gave up and left Him until the time right before the cross. Jesus defeated him in the Garden of Gethsemane, and most of at the cross of Calvary.
We need to read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Word so that we can use it in times of trial and temptation. It is our strength and sustenance. Just as bread, our natural food, sustains our bodies, God’s Word sustains our souls. We can’t live without it. We are so blessed to have God’s written Word from Genesis to Revelation, which is God’s full revelation and whole counsel of God. It answers every question, meets every need, and speaks to every subject.
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.” It is our Guidebook in this life to instruct us and help us. Just as we wouldn’t miss a meal physically, we shouldn’t miss one spiritually either. It is even more important to our overall health. God’s Word proceeds out of His mouth to fill our hearts and minds in Christ. We may read many books, newspapers, articles on the internet, and devotionals from great writers; and they are mostly fine and good, but none can compare to the Bible. Commentaries and devotionals as good as they are, are but vitamin supplements, which can’t compare to the healthy food that we eat. God’s Word has all nutrition we need daily for our spiritual lives.
May the Lord teach us His Word and sustain and strengthen us through it. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.
Nourished in His eternal Word,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 