| But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” |
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| Matthew 4:4 says, “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” |
| EAT YOUR SCRIPTURES One of my favorite cartoons growing up was Popeye the Sailor Man. It was a cartoon that made eating spinach famous because as Popeye was facing his arch nemesis, Bluto, he would pop open a can of spinach and squeeze the contents of the can into his mouth. Immediately he had big muscles and was STRONG, so strong that he started whipping up on the bigger and stronger Bluto. Parents and grandparents (moms and grandmothers) seized on the opportunity to encourage the eating of spinach by saying EAT YOUR SPINACH so you can be strong like Popeye. Today’s verse to DATE reminds us that we need to be EATING GOD’S SCRIPTURES. Jesus speaks right back at the Devil as he tries to convince a hungry Jesus to misuse His power and command rocks to turn into bread. Even though He was hungry from fasting for 40 days Jesus knows He is not to fulfill a natural appetite in an unnatural way. He quotes to the devil Deuteronomy 8:3, using Scripture to push back on the devil’s temptation to fulfill or satisfy the lust of the flesh. As humans, we are more than a physical being. We are spiritual and our soul must be fed just as our physical beings need to be fed and nourished. The Scriptures are SOUL FOOD. In order to be spiritually healthy and in order to be spiritually strong we need to feed on the Scriptures DAILY. To the new believers, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,”. The writer of Hebrews spoke of moving forward to solid food or what might be called the meat of the word. One of my favorite verses about eating God’s Word comes from Jeremiah 15:16. Jeremiah said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” I think Jeremiah might say EAT YOUR SCRIPTURES! There is another verse for April 4 that ties to Matthew 4:4. It is Proverbs 4:4. Proverbs 4:4 says, “He (KING DAVID) also taught me (Solomon), and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.” Our spiritual LIFE is so dependent on the SCRIPTURES! It is imperative to hear (EAT) and read (EAT) and memorize (EAT) and study and meditate and APPLY God’s Word, Scripture to LIVE! To cap off EAT YOUR SCRIPTURES let us be reminded that John wrote to young men and commended them for being STRONG. They were STRONG because the Word of God was in them. Because God’s Word was in them they were STRONG and they OVERCAME the evil one. (See 1 John 2:14) Friends, EAT THE SCRIPTURES! Do not become spiritually malnourished. In the morning (before physical breakfast) EAT THE SCRIPTURES Psalm 143:8 says, “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.” In the evening BEFORE BED read God’s Word so that you might meditate in your bed as Ps 63:6 says, “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.” My friend, Stu Epperson says, Bible before breakfast, Bible before Bed! Please listen to Jesus: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ EAT THE SCRIPTURES! Verse to DATE the Word on April 4 (4/4) is Matthew 4:4. It says, “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Continue Strong EATING THE SCRIPTURES And remember to DATE THE WORD |