Verse of the Day 1/4

Verse of the Day 1/4

Matthew 4:4 English Standard Version

4 But he answered, "It is written,

"'Man shall not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

If you are following a read through the New Testament plan, today's verse was likely in your reading.  Each year I look forward to reading these chapters in Matthew beginning with the tempatation of Jesus and His responses to the devil, and then the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5 through 7.  These chapters are jam packed with lessons on how to live the Christian life.

We've considered how we are called to do good and to draw upon the living waters, living by the Spirit.  Today we consider our spiritual food.  Here Jesus refers back to the book of Deuteronomy (8:3) where God allowed the Israelites to hunger so that He might feed them with the manna, day by day.  Jesus takes it to the spiritual level and points to God's Word as being the most important thing in sustainiing us.  It nurtures us, makes us stronger, better equipped to face the challenges of the day more than the temporary benefit of physical food.

In each of the temptations of Satan, Jesus rebuked Him by quoting scripture.  We need to know it back and forth, through and through so that we may bring it to mind in the same way in facing the challenges in our lives. What does the Word mean to you?

The Word is living
The Word is light
The Word delights my soul
Preserves my life
Holy and hidden
Forever true
The perfect sacrifice
Our Lord...Jesus Christ

The Word is wisdom
The Word is true
The Word takes all that's old
And makes it new
When hearts are broken
He makes them whole
The One who paid the price
Our Lord...Jesus Christ.  (The Word is Living - Steve Green)

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Matthew 4

English Standard Version

The Temptation of Jesus

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And 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,

"'Man shall not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

"'He will command his angels concerning you,'

and

"'On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"

7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

"'You shall worship the Lord your God
    and him only shall you serve.'"

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.