Matthew 4:4: Spiritual Food for Really Living. Matthew 4:4 (NIV) Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" COMMENTARY PEARL If you want a healthy mind, you must feed your mind with truth. We all know the importance of nutrition. Good food and good calories make you stronger and healthier and give you more energy. Bad calories and junk food harm your body. The same is true in your thought life. You must feed your mind not with junk or poison but with truth. One time I had the privilege of lecturing at Oxford University, and while I was there, I was invited to go to a meeting of Oxford Analytica. This is a group youve likely never heard of that has enormous influence in the world. Every day around 6 a.m., the leading scholars of Oxford gather in a room to get reports from all around the world about whats happened in the last 24 hours, from crop prices rising in China to more unrest in the Middle East. Then they make the decision about what needs to be said about it. By 11 a.m. a report has been given to groups that pay big bucks for this information, such as the CIA and major corporations. Oxford Analytica is founded on the idea that the best leaders make the best decisions when they have the best information. Even if you are a good leader, if you dont have the best information, youre going to make a bad decision. You need the best information to live the best life that God wants you to live. That information is right there in the Word of God. The Bible says in Matthew 4:4, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (NLT). God wants you to make the best decisions and receive his best for your life. You do that by feeding on the Word of God throughout your day, every day. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] COMMENTARY The Model of Jesus Jesus memorized and thought about Scripture. Thinking about a verse and repeating it to ourselves until we remember it is such a gift of life. For example, we might meditate on Colossians 1:10-11, "We pray that you will grow to know God better. We want you to be very strong, in keeping with his glorious power" (NIrV). Just praying that verse opens the door for the Holy Spirit to reframe our thoughts and fill us with that strength. Or if we're facing a setback, we can meditate on 2 Corinthians 4:16: "We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." No habit will help you more in the spiritual dynamics of getting healthy than memorizing and meditating on the Word of God. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional re Psalm 119:48] Our adversary, the devil, is constantly trying to get us to doubt our relationship with Christ and our citizenship in heaven. The same thing happened to Jesus. No sooner had the Father publicly declared, "This is my Son," than Satan countered with, "If you are the Son of God " His strategy hasn't changed; he does the same with us today. Jesus' response was simply to say, "It is written " The Word of God is called the sword of the Spirit because it is our main offensive weapon against the enemy (Eph. 6:17). Our Savior has given us the highest example - be ready to speak the Word of God. When Scripture is in your mouth, on the tip of your tongue, it will defeat the devil and doubts every time. Lord Jesus, help me to be ready today when the enemy attacks. Thank You for giving me Your example in always using the Word of God to defeat the enemy's lies and tactics. Life is too short to fall for Satan's deceptions and to be discouraged and sidetracked by his attacks. Keep me in Your Word, Lord. And keep Your Word in me. [A Spectacle of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby] In the book of Judges, Delilah kept pestering Samson, saying, "Tell me the secret of your great strength (Judges 16:6). She just had to know. In the same way, many people are curious about Christians who demonstrate strong faith in difficult times. How are they able to show such confidence in an invisible God? What's their secret? The answer, of course, is revealed throughout the pages of the Bible. THE SECRET OF FAITH IS THE FOOD IT FEEDS ON. As today's Scripture teaches, a person of strong faith lives "on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Strong faith first takes in the sweet milk of God's Word - and then cuts its teeth on the meat. Strong faith feeds on the Bread of Heaven. If you want great faith, then double-check the condition of your soul. Is it thin and frail? Weak and emaciated? Get away from the distraction of TV, phones, and devices and reengage with the Word of Life. Lord, I have been feeding on the wrong things. Shallow things. Empty things. Things that won't fill me up and can't help me. And I seem to lose strength so quickly! I lose my grip on Your precious truths that have kept me going through the years. Open Your Word to me. Pour Your life into me. Renew my strength today. [A Spectacle of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby] ILLUSTRATION I remember being present some years ago in a church in South Wales when a debate was held between a university professor and an ordinary coal miner. The subject was: "Is the Bible true?" The university professor presented his arguments in a clear fashion, and I remember feeling quite sorry for the miner as I imagined some of the difficulties he might face when making his reply. After the professor had finished, the miner stood to his feet. And for over an hour, I witnessed one of the most amazing demonstrations of the Holy Spirit at work that I have ever seen in my life. The miner began by asking everyone to bow their heads as he prayed a prayer which went something like this: Lord, I have not had much education, but You know that I love Your Word and have spent my life searching its pages. Help me now to say something that will convince my friends here that Your Word is true. He then proceeded to demolish the arguments of the professor simply by quoting appropriate Scriptures without making even a simple comment. When he finished, there was thunderous applause. The professor's well-articulated, highly intellectual arguments had been torn to pieces by the sharp edges of the sword of the Spirit - by that and by that alone. O Father, the more I hear, the more I want to hear. For I was created by Your Word, designed according to Your Word, and I can never remain content until I am indwelt with Your Word. Teach me even more. In Jesus name. Amen. [Every Day With Jesus Bible with Selwyn Hughes devotionals re Proverbs 4:3-4] CLOSING THOUGHTS God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity Every day I have the honor of sitting down with a book that contains the words of the One who created me. Every day I have the opportunity to let him give me a thought or two on how to live. If I don't do what he says, he doesn't burn the book or cancel my subscription. If I disagree with what he says, lightning doesn't split my swivel chair or an angel doesn't mark my name off the holy list. If I don't understand what he says, he doesn't call me a dummy. In fact, he calls me "Son," and on a different page explains what I don't understand. In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado [Inspirational SB] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20101230-1956.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20050923-1126.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT Most Important Decision in Life: http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo [old, but one of the best] Importance of Choice: http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video] Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782 Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE Musical Devotional On Christian Living: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David DeRose, MD, MPH: https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ Amazing Facts Bible Studies: http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/ Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/ ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657 Last Day Prophecy: His Other Sheep by Pastor Gerald Babanezhad: https://vimeo.com/162267518