True Food // Matthew 4:4
Today’s verse comes from Matthew’s account of Jesus’ temptation by Satan in the wilderness prior to the official beginning of His earthly ministry. Satan’s trickery amounts to two basic things that we do well to remember. The first is how the devil tried to appeal to Jesus’ human nature. Satan knew Jesus was hungry and meant for great things, so he tried to find the weaknesses that make all of us vulnerable. The second thing that the deceiver used to try and trick Jesus was the Word of God itself. You will note when you read Matthew 4 that the devil used Scripture as a way to try and take advantage of Jesus’ vulnerabilities. This is an insidious, yet timeless tactic, as we go back to the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden with the simple question, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1) That worked then and it can work on us still, but it didn’t work for Jesus. Why? Well, Jesus proved He had a more intimate knowledge of God’s Word, enabling Him to discern God’s will, and empowering Him to go God’s way. This is the model you and I need, which is why I am so glad you take the time to read these daily writings. May we all strive to get into God’s Word to discern God’s will and commit to go God’s way. It worked for Jesus and it will work for us, too!
Jeremiah 15:6, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”
John 6:53-58, “Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.'”
