The Grands Letter (GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on January 27, 2018 8:01 am (CST)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.'”
Baptism had been a highlight in Jesus’ life. Through His baptism, He was
Introduced to all mankind as the Messiah. The entire Trinity (also known as
the Godhead) had been present for the occasion. But now, He must be
proved as able to withstand Satan and his clever and slanderous assaults.
That Jesus was willing to undergo the tests is proved by the Holy Spirit’s
leadership. After 40 days and nights of prayer and going without food, the
human aspect of Jesus’ being was exceedingly hungry. Satan then tempted
Him. “If You are the Son of God, (and You are)” he said, “command that these stones become bread.” Jesus saw the subtlety in Satan’s words, and said,
“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of
the mouth of God.”
When I was in high school, I was often invited to lunch by some businessmen
in town. One day a veteran of the Korean War was the speaker. I remember
him saying that they were so hungry for American food that he bought a can
of chili-con-carne from a fellow-soldier for $20! Hunger is a huge factor in
temptation. And Satan knows more about how to “buffalo” us than we know
about resisting. Oh, you think I can’t turn stones to bread, huh? No, it was a
solicitation to engage in evil. Jesus knew that sin is evil –every time! And he
immediately resorted to the Word of God as His defense. Notice, too, that
He said, “…every word…” Don’t be guilty of racing through your reading of
Scripture. Savor every word like you would a soft and luscious piece of meat.
The Word of God is always our best defense against evil and temptation. Use
it as the LORD intended. It will never fail you.
You are daily in our prayers, always in our love,
Nana & Dado III
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
“We never know that God is all we need
until He becomes all that we have.”