 |
 |
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
| >>> | |||||
Matthew 4:4 - Spiritual Food Is Necessary for Spiritual Living.Matthew 4:4 (ESV) But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"CONTEXT The devil's temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical needs and desires, (2) possessions and their accompanying power, and (3) pride (see 1 John 2:15-16 for a similar list). But Jesus did not give in. Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus "faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin." He knows firsthand what we are experiencing, and he will help us in our struggles (Hebrews 2:14-18). When you are tempted, turn to him for strength. [Life Application SB 2019] CONTENT Jesus was hungry and weak after fasting for 40 days, but he chose not to use his divine power to satisfy his heightened desire for food. Food and eating are good, but the timing was wrong. Jesus was in the wilderness to fast. And because Jesus had given up the unlimited, independent use of his divine power in order to experience humanity fully (Philippians 2:6-8), he wouldn't use his power to change the stones to bread as the devil suggested. Jesus waited on God to provide for his needs, and he didn't take matters into his own hands. We also may be tempted to satisfy a perfectly normal desire in a wrong way or at the wrong time. If we indulge in sex before marriage or if we steal to get food, we are trying to satisfy God-given desires in wrong ways. Remember, many of our desires are normal and good, but God wants us to satisfy them in the right way and at the right time. The devil tried to get Jesus to doubt his Father's love, protection, and provision. Jesus was able to resist all of the devil's temptations because he not only knew Scripture but also obeyed it. Ephesians 6:17 says that God's Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil's attacks, but we must also obey what the Bible teaches. Satan knew Scripture, too, but he purposely misquoted it, disregarded its real meaning, and had no intention of obeying it. Continuing to study and know what the Bible says and what it really means helps us follow God's desires rather than the devil's. [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARLS As our physical life is sustained by food, so our spiritual life is sustained by the word of God.... We should carefully study the Bible, asking God for the aid of the Holy Spirit, that we may understand His word. We should take one verse, and concentrate the mind on the task of ascertaining the thought which God has put in that verse for us. We should dwell upon the thought until it becomes our own, and we know "what saith the Lord."... The word of God, received into the soul, molds the thoughts, and enters into the development of character.... The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the divine similitude. This is what it means to live "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." This is eating the Bread that comes down from heaven. DA390,1 The truth given by inspiration "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Not by one word, not by many words, but by every word that God has spoken, shall man live. You cannot disregard one word, a single injunction that He has given, however trifling it may seem to you, and be safe. 5T434 COMMENTARY 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] CLOSING PEARL Read it through, pray it in, live it out, pass it on. George Gritter LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY Matthew 4:4 - Spiritual Food Is Necessary for Spirit Living. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200618-0839.html John 6:63 - The Power of Gods Word. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220212-0849.html Ephesians 6:17b - Christian Armor; The Word of God. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230425-0933.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |