04/18/2024 – Man does not live on bread alone
Matthew 4: 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
The Lord quotes the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy to overcome temptation. But He does not just quote a verse- He lives the Word. When you are living the Word in the power of the Spirit, not even the devil can turn you away from God’s purpose in your life. Such is the power of the Word. To live the Word is to overcome!
Many have been called saints; but only Christ demonstrated the holiness of God. That is why He alone is worthy! The lion of the tribe of Judah has overcome. He overcame the devil because he lived the Word of God perfectly.
Christ was waiting for the delicacies that the Father was preparing for him. He trusted that, in God’s time, his physical hunger would be satisfied. Notice that at the end of this trial angels came and served him. How blessed we are when we reject what the devil offers us and wait for what God wants to give us. Christ redeems Israel in the wilderness by living the Word of God. He is the new Adam and the new Israel, and he demonstrates the difference between the old man and the new. In the desert, the people of Israel remembered the onions of Egypt, got tired of manna, and asked for meat. It is natural after eating the same day after day, to wish for something different. Just as at first it delights us in the flesh, over time it can become despicable to us. Variety, many say, is the spice of life. But life in the Spirit is fullness of joy.
He who is led by the Spirit of God delights in his grace continually and desires nothing but what God commands. He does not try to manipulate God or use the power God has given him to oppose God’s will. Trusting God means receiving everything that comes from Him. He commands blessing and affliction, wound and healing. The devil will always offer us more seasoned food, but we must remain steadfast in our faith, receiving only what God commands, recognizing his sovereignty and WAITING in Him, knowing that He is good and that the trial has an end, and that having passed the test God Himself will provide!