January 1, 2002

MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE

Jesus answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' " (Matthew 4:4, NKJV).

Jesus answered Satan with truth that God had revealed to Moses fifteen centuries before Christ (see Deuteronomy 8:3). After fasting 40 days Jesus was almost at the point of death. By His response, Jesus affirmed that it is more important to live according to the words and instruction of God than to live according to the desires of the flesh. Certainly Jesus was hungry and He was soon fed. However, Jesus told Satan, and us, that obedience to God's requirements was more essential than temporal food. To pursue a course of deviation from the words and instruction of God would be more grievous than hunger or death.

"The only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the word of God... When we learn the power of His word, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives. Our only questions will be, What is God's command? and what His promise? Knowing these, we shall obey the one, and trust the other."--Desire of Ages, p. 60.

Job said, "I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12). Paul spoke of tasting "the good word of God" (Hebrews 6:5). Peter referred to "the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).

Jesus, the living Word (John 1:1-3), is the "living bread which came down from heaven" (John 6:51). Whoever has Jesus has life! Whoever does not have Jesus will not experience the fulness of life (see John 3:36 and John 10:10). Jesus is the Spiritual bread from heaven that nourishes our souls.

My Prayer Today: Lord, teach me Your ways, and give me the wisdom to obey You, that I may experience Your more abundant life.