by Pastor David Speas
Matthew 4:4 - 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."
Jesus had just fasted 40 days. Let that sink in. He hadn't eaten food in (pause) 40 (pause), DAYS! No vitamins. No protein shakes. No fruit juice. I almost laugh out loud every time I read verse 2. "After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." Ya think!?
And then satan comes to tempt Him. By the way, isn't that how satan still works today? Doesn't he still attack us when we're busy? Tired? Stressed? Have low blood sugar? Just finished arguing with our spouse? Anyway, I digress.
So Jesus is hungry and satan tempts him to turn some stones into bread. I find His response fascinating. "Man shall not live by bread alone." Don't miss this! It's important! Jesus is revealing a vital truth!
Physical food isn't the only nourishment we need. In fact, it's not even the most important. There is a nourishment of the soul.
Many people live their whole lives never sensing this hunger. But Jesus felt it keenly. It was an appetite that could only be satisfied with one thing-time in the Word. It was an appetite that superseded His desire for physical food.
He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." He was hungry for God's Word.
Do you have this same hunger in your life? Do get weak when you miss your spiritual mealtimes? Are you constantly going back for seconds?
I am convinced that we don't realize the importance of this spiritual food. But my prayer is that we will. Though fasting, I pray that God gives us a sense of our deeper hungering. Through prayer, I pray that He gives us the refreshment we so desperately long for. I believe He can do it.