Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Remember that when Jesus says these words, He says them to Satan. He's being tempted. He has been fasting in the wilderness. He's hungry. He's exhausted. I'm sure He's tired.
When Satan comes—and this is very important to see—Jesus is there. He's fasting. Satan comes and He responds to him. He responds to the devil with Scripture, with the Word of God. That alone teaches us something.
Scripture Is Not Optional
In moments of difficulty, in moments of testing, in moments of temptation, the Word of God is not like an optional thing. It's not a tool that you can use. It is the tool. It is the means of your deliverance.
Jesus's Practice of Fasting and Prayer
Back to Jesus. He's here and He is fasting, which means we could say it this way: He is depriving Himself. He's depriving Himself of something so that He might prayerfully abide with God. He has removed some of these distractions so that He can really focus and spend time with and abide with God.
What Does He Live On?
While He's doing that, we might ask the question: What does He live on? Because He's not living on physical food, He's not living on bread. He's depriving Himself of that. What does He say? He is living on the Word of God.
He's quoting Deuteronomy chapter 8, verse 3: "Man does not live on bread alone. Man lives by the Word of God."
More Than Material
Bread matters. Physical needs matter. We are embodied souls. But here's the point: Human life cannot be sustained by material things alone. We were made for more than food and comfort and immediate satisfaction. We were made for God Himself, and we live by the Word of God.
The Deepest Hunger of the Soul
That is what Jesus shows us here. The deepest hunger that we have, the deepest hunger of the soul, is not for bread, but it is for God Himself speaking through His Word.
A Reminder Before Preaching
When I was preaching every week, this was one of the verses—Deuteronomy chapter 8, verse 3 and Matthew chapter 4, verse 4. For that I would say to myself, and remind myself before going up to preach, that man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. The Word of God. We are completely dependent in life on the Word of God.
What Abiding Really Looks Like
This also teaches us what abiding really looks like. That's what Jesus was doing. He was taking time away in the wilderness. Remember, removing Himself from distractions, fasting. He was abiding with God.
Abiding with God is not just sitting in a room. It's not just sitting in silence. It's not meditating with your mind unfastened from reality. No, it is a time where we are abiding with God by hearing from Him and being nourished by what God has said by His Word.
How We Abide in Christ
We abide in Christ and with Christ by hearing His Word, not just hearing His Word, but believing His Word, obeying His Word, leaning on His promises.
If we neglect God's Word, as we're all prone to do, if we know His Word but neglect Scripture, we should not be surprised if our souls become very, very weak.
What Are You Feeding On?
Ask yourself today: What are you trying to live on? What are you feeding on? Is it busyness? Approval? Is it comfort or is it the Word of God?
Your body needs food. Your soul needs the Word of God.
