Living on Living Bread

Today’s devotion: Matthew, chapters 1 – 7

Today’s Scripture is Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Observation: Food sustains us. It is a mystery to me how our body has the ability to take what we put in our mouths and divide it in such a way that it feeds our pancreas, liver, lungs, ears, hair and even our toenails! The food we eat is filled with proteins and carbohydrates and simple sugars and fat and who-knows what else. We don’t even really need to understand all the nutrients there are to be found in our food. We need only to eat it. Without it we slowly die.

Jesus explained that what food is for the body, the Word of God is for our soul. We need a daily intake of it if we are to be spiritually healthy. Jesus made this statement at a time when he was physically hungry. He had been fasting for forty days. He was tempted to turn stones into bread. He overcame that temptation by actually quoting the word of God from Deuteronomy. One of the benefits of health is resistance to disease. Jesus’ knowledge of the Word of God empowered Him to withstand temptation.

I’m thinking today that as I go through the New Testament these next 40 days, my expectation is to be ready and able to stand strong against things that would tempt me to live below God’s best for me.

Application: There are many benefits to a healthy diet. I anticipate many benefits to a healthy diet of God’s Word, not the least of these being the strength to overcome temptation. Today, by the grace of God, I will keep my eyes open and my heart soft toward the things of God!

Prayer: Today, Father, I trust for Your grace over my life. I know that things may come my way that would try to beset my faith and tarnish my character and witness. I thank You that Your Word sustains me and girds me up to stand in the midst of trials. I avail myself of Your power today to stand. And having done all, to stand!