The devil thought he had Him. The baby born in a manger, now a man, was hungry and weak. Now would be the best time to attack and get Him to step out of God’s will and follow the devil.
Satan tempted His hunger, telling him to turn the desert stones into bread so He could eat.
Jesus, however, knew what was going on. He knew His enemy’s intent. He also knew the Book – I mean, He wrote it, right?
I can just imagine he looked at the stones the devil indicated as though He was considering doing what Satan wanted, them looked back at the wily one and said NO.
His next words were so profound, we quote them often today. Today I found this translation to be breathtaking, so I share it with you.
“Jesus answered, “The Scriptures
say: ‘No one can live only on food.
People need every word that God
has spoken.’ ””
(This is the Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition.)
I’ve always read the “man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” and honestly didn’t grasp how that really fit with the temptation. Call me slow or dense, it’s okay. We all arrive at our understanding of scripture when God wants it so.
But today? Wow!
With my health journey I’ve learned this truth. I’m not only living on much less food, I’m thriving. However, I haven’t cut back on my scriptural calories. If anything I’ve increased them.
To me, the God-breathed words in the Bible are like oxygen. There is no way I can live without them.
Does that mean I lead a perfect life in full obedience to every word?
Whoowee! Don’t I wish.
But y’all, I’m still human. I believe I do a little better every day and will continue to do so until God takes me to heaven or Jesus returns. That’s when I’ll be made perfect. Until then, I’m sticking with the Word that corrects me, guides me, encourages me, helps me, sustains my faith, and tells me who I am.
When we realize that consuming physical food will never be enough for us and add the scriptures to our diet, our lives will change dramatically for the better such that we can answer the devil’s taunts with truth instead of being knocked off-kilter by them. Who wouldn’t want that?
Let’s start today. I use a physical Bible, but mostly the digital one on my phone using the YouVersion app. There I can compare various translations as well as the paraphrase versions. There are also several reading plans to help keep me reading consistently. Depending on the version, I can have the app read the words to me – anytime, anywhere – filling my mind and soul with His words for me.
Whichever way you choose, don’t just think about it. Don’t wait till the new year to start. Take action today!
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
