Bread of Life

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

                                                                       (Matt 4:1-4 KJV)

That old tempter can be pretty sly. What may appear to be good is not always what is good.

Jesus went forty days without food. He was hungry. The devil shows up and challenges him to prove that he is the Son of God by changing the stones into bread. Jesus refuses saying that to live life we need more than physical food to eat. The word of God is necessary for an abundant life; for eternal life. Jesus is the Word of God that is necessary for such life.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

                                                                                        (John 1:1,14)

Jesus is the bread of life. He said:  "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

The tempter would have us believe otherwise. He would have us challenge the reality of God by challenging God to prove himself. All the proof has already been given to us through the inspired word of God. It was given to us when Jesus hung on that cross for us; was buried; and, rose from the dead. It was given to us as the witnesses watched him ascend into the heavenly place. All this was done for us. Nothing more than the Word of God who is the bread of life is needed for an abundant life in him. Anything more is distraction by the tempter to keep us from trusting the Lord.

Trust the Lord to provide for you and live a grace filled life in him.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Deliver Us From Evil

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

                                             (2 Thess 3:1-3 KJV)

Pray, pray, pray, and pray some more. In these very unstable times (when have they not been unstable?) I have found myself in almost constant prayer. 

Political and religious extremists on every side insist even to the persecution of those who disagree with them that they are right. It is very disheartening to see so much division in this country and in the world. It is not right that people should be attacked and even killed for who they are and for what they believe.

And, so we must pray that the Lord will deliver those who are persecuted from unreasonable and wicked men; that the Lord will keep them from evil.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

                                                                           (Matt 6:1b-13)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

We Cannot Live By Bread Alone

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4 KJV)  

Hungry? Thirsty? Eat, eat, eat and never get satisfied; only want for more? 

Food was meant to nourish our bodies.  It can be a pretty strong temptation to eat way more than one needs to meet their physical needs. Food might give you temporary satisfaction; but, that sense of satisfaction will be forgotten within an hour or two; maybe less. One meal; not even two or three, will not last you a lifetime. But, the Word of God will nourish you soul for all of eternity.

The tendency to give in to the temptation of momentary satisfaction can lead to all kinds of problems for us; particularly if it goes against the word of God. Temptations to depend on momentary happiness rather than the Word can lead to disasters for us.

After Jesus had fasted in the wilderness for forty days after his baptism; he, like we too often are, was tempted by the devil to turn stones into bread so that he could eat. He; unlike what we would do if we had the ability, refused. "... he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

No, most of us do not have the strength to refuse a temptation like that. If we could we would. But; then again, most of us do not have the fortitude to fast for forty days and nights, either. Our cravings are too much to attempt that. 

Heavenly Father, "... lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matt 6:13)

God's Peace - Pr. J