The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 4:1-4, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.

3 And the tempter came and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’

4 But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

“Now on Friday there’s goina be a little quiz.” Professor Beasley’s quizes were never what you would call “easy”; but he softened the warning with a warm smile. Obviously, he intended to question us as to what he had said in his previous lectures. They were for our benefit, as was everything he did and said.

But there is a clear difference between a test and a temptation. A test is for our good; a temptation only looks as if it’s for our good, but clearly it is not. Satan’s hijacking of CHRISTmas by introducing Santa Claus was not the end of his nefarious tactics. But, this time, the tables were turned. It was necessary that Jesus prove His strength to resist evil; thus, the Holy Spirit led Him into the valley of temptation for that proof.

Temptation to do evil often comes when we are physically weak. Jesus hand fasted and prayed for 40 days. He was not only hungry, He was tired as never before. And it was when He was in this condition, that the devil pounced on Him with a cleaver twist of words.

“If You are the son of God –and You are—command that these stones become bread.” You’re in charge here, there’s no need for you to suffer like this. You’re the boss of this business; you’re the pastor of this church.

You’re the head of this family, just do what you want! Satan makes it so inviting. And, truth be told, we fall for his scheme. But in the end, “it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper” (Prov. 23:32).

Jesus’ response was a steadfast resistence! He simply quoted Scripture. The Greeks had clear meaning in the way they wrote and spoke. Our English version that says, “It is written,” says in Greek, “It has been written and it remains that way.” Pretty powerful stuff! Jesus is saying that the physical bread is far less important that the spiritual Word of God. The Word of God is that which continues to be His Word in every situation. It is always present for our deliverence from temptation; it is all-powerful in that nothing can stand against it.

So, then, why do we still fall into Satan’s traps? Isn’t it clear? We either neglect or ignore His Word. Well, why does He continue to allow us to fall into Satan’s traps? It is to prove His strength to deliver us. Yet His Word only works for us when we live in it daily and lean upon Him for deliverence. Are you doing that?

We love you and are praying for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”