Good day dear friends.
Our prayers for Jennifer Smith who is in critical condition and hospice care at CTMC; and for Howard Yeargan who was awaiting a blood transfusion to help with a low blood count.
Our text comes from Matthew 4:1 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.' 4 But he answered, 'It is written, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
The second most important component of our Lenten Journey is to immerse ourselves in the Word of God. In the passage above after His forty days and nights of prayer and fasting, Jesus was tempted and tempted hard by the devil. The first place we get tempted is our weakest and Jesus was no exception. Jesus had not seen or tasted food for forty days and so as he comes out of the wilderness He is hungry. Satan knows the stones of the area look like the bread of the area and time and so asks, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Jesus' response is our sustenance comes not just from bread only, but from the word of God.
Jesus knew the scriptures as did the devil. One knew it as truth and food, the other as ridicule and mockery. Jesus knew that from God's Word He received what He needed to continue onward. Satan saw it only as a stumbling stone for him and his evil ways. If we read it like Jesus, excited and hungry to learn and grow, we will be stronger and ready for whatever may come our way.
PRAYER: Thank You, Living God for your Living Word. May we immerse ourselves in Bible reading and prayer during these forty days so that You may speak to us Your truth and love. I pray in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
Our prayers for Jennifer Smith who is in critical condition and hospice care at CTMC; and for Howard Yeargan who was awaiting a blood transfusion to help with a low blood count.
Our text comes from Matthew 4:1 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.' 4 But he answered, 'It is written, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
The second most important component of our Lenten Journey is to immerse ourselves in the Word of God. In the passage above after His forty days and nights of prayer and fasting, Jesus was tempted and tempted hard by the devil. The first place we get tempted is our weakest and Jesus was no exception. Jesus had not seen or tasted food for forty days and so as he comes out of the wilderness He is hungry. Satan knows the stones of the area look like the bread of the area and time and so asks, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." Jesus' response is our sustenance comes not just from bread only, but from the word of God.
Jesus knew the scriptures as did the devil. One knew it as truth and food, the other as ridicule and mockery. Jesus knew that from God's Word He received what He needed to continue onward. Satan saw it only as a stumbling stone for him and his evil ways. If we read it like Jesus, excited and hungry to learn and grow, we will be stronger and ready for whatever may come our way.
PRAYER: Thank You, Living God for your Living Word. May we immerse ourselves in Bible reading and prayer during these forty days so that You may speak to us Your truth and love. I pray in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
e.v.
