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.'”

It’s not unusual for a job-applicant to be required to undergo a trial period before actually being given the job. In fact, almost everything we do requires our mastery of the job’s “learning curve.” Still, it may seem strange that the LORD Jesus Christ underwent a “trial period” before He commenced His ministry to the people of His day. It might seem even stranger when we learn that it was the Holy Spirit who led Him into the wilderness that He might be tested against Satan, His chief adversary and ours.

Undoubtedly, Satan knew this day was coming. If he could successfully defeat Christ before the commencement of His ministry, perhaps he might be successful in defeating Him altogether. Thus, there in the wilderness, he found Jesus, ravenously famished after 40 days of fasting, yet in faithful fellowship with God the Father.

Carefully, yet forthrightly, Satan said, “If You are the Son of God –and You are!” — (so the Greek construction sets it forth) “command that these stones become bread.” It was a subtle, carefully crafted solicitation to go against the Father’s will. Just simply say it, Satan was saying, You know who You are; and You know that Your Father will not withhold bread from You. Yet for Christ Jesus to have obeyed Satan’s request, would have been to have recognized him as the one in charge. We must be careful of that very thing in our own lives.

Jesus was aware of His Father’s provision of manna for Israel when she wandered in the wilderness. He also knew how His Father had fed Elijah by causing the ravens to carry him food. This ploy of Satan was intended to persuade Jesus to doubt His Father’s ability to provide for His every need. This is exactly how Satan approaches us! He want us to doubt the LORD! The Scriptures tell us to trust in the LORD!

The ultimate victory occurred when Jesus turned to the Scriptures for His reply. “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'” And so it is that the Scriptures provide the same power for us! We simply must live in them and trust the LORD who has given us His Word.

Are you trusting Christ for the needs you have? Or are you looking elsewhere for answers? Look to the Bible, the Holy Scriptures! Trust in the LORD who gave us those Scriptures! Either the LORD is lord of our lives, or the devil is in charge. “Trust in the LORD…” always!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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.”