Spiritually Nourished

Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4

“Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭MSG‬‬

These verses show us that we aren’t to just eat food and that’s all we need for growth. Instead, it tells us that we need also need to feed on the Word of God. Feeding on God’s Word might sound weird, but it’s really helpful for your spiritual growth.

Nothing was more important to the Lord Jesus than to carry out the Word and Will of His heavenly Father, and this even included dealing with His legitimate needs and those natural human desires that are not sinful in and off themselves, but which do become sinful when we engage in them independently of our Heavenly Father.

Although fully God, Jesus lived His life as fully man, and needed food to sustain His physical, human body, but His priorities throughout His life placed obedience to His heavenly Father's Will and Word as the highest priority in His life, as it should be for all of God's blood-bought children.

Although He was fully God and was well within His right and ability to turn stones to bread, to do so would have been to act independently of God.

When Adam acted independently of the Lord in the garden of Eden, failing to live his life in total dependence on his Heavenly Father, it disqualified him from the plans and purposes of God.

Jesus lived as the perfect example of how God expects all His blood-bought children to live, in obedient dependance upon our Heavenly Father. Obedience to the Word and Will of God means not seeking to act independently of Him, no matter how pressing the need or how we think the activity is of great value and supreme importance in the eyes of the Lord.

Trusting Jesus in every eventuality of life, however pressing the need, not only demonstrates a Godly character but is also part of God's child-training program for all believers, so that we may continue to be conformed into the image and likeness of Christ as we depend on Him. This is not only for our good, but glorifies His Holy Name.

God's Word, His written Word the Bible, His demonstrated Word in Jesus, and His proclaimed Word in the Gospel are what can sustain us eternally. This is the living bread we seek.

Let us seek to be obedient to the Word and Will of the Lord and be prepared to say: "Man will not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

Father thank You for this day and the amazing example of Jesus when He set aside His rights and abilities in order to be obedient to Your Word and will. Lord open the floodgates of heaven and rain down abundant blessings upon my friend and family today. Lord may we keep the eyes of our hearts on Your earthly example and resist the temptation to act independently of You. Lord help us to depend on You in every eventuality of life, knowing that this is Your will for us and brings honour to Your Name. Lord use my friend to be someone’s blessing today.

Father, we love You. Amen !