True Bread

As we start this new Vida ask yourself what percentage of your self esteem come from what you do, what percentage comes from who you know ( your relationships) and what percentage comes from your relationship to the Lord.

Matthew 4:1-10

Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry ( literally starving)
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
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.

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, That you shall not tempt the Lord thy God,
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Many years ago Bill Crosby coined a phrase, “ the devil made me do it.” He obviously never knew the scriptures. The importance of knowing God’s Word cannot be overemphasized, especially since Jesus used it to thwart the temptations and deceit of Satan. Satan means have not changed since the beginning, he cast doubt on God’s Word. To Eve he said “ you shall not surely die,” with the intent that she would eat the fruit. With Jesus he was casting doubt on Christ’s identity and if He was truly the Son of God. If He was, then there was no need for Him to be starving. He should be able to feed himself by turning the stones into bread. We might call this taking a short cut as opposed to waiting upon the Father.

How often we do this, justifying our actions though the scriptures teach otherwise. The most common example that comes to mind is when two “Christian” people who are dating allow themselves to become sexually active. They  justify it because they are planning to get married. Many times this freedom is what breaks up the relationship as via their sexual freedom the relationship becomes more serious. They forgot that being friends is what drew them together and as more arguments ensue the end of their relationship, unless changes are made, draws near. Respecting the bounties allows them to grow first as friends working out their differences rather than entering into an intimacy that neither they nor their relationship is ready for. Fortunately for us, Christ didn’t take any short cuts and we need to follow His example. Christ knew who He was and the last person he needed to prove it to was Satan.

People will challenge our Christian beliefs wanting to draw us into debate with them. Most of the  time you will exhaust yourself and gain nothing, they are not open to hearing the truth. Their main goal is to see if they can trip you up or discredit  you in front of others. I use to get into these debates believing it was my duty to defend God and the Gospel. I learned that the greatest defense for both were not my words, but my life.  When my life reflected Christ, then my words carried weight and debates were few. I would simply say that I am not interested in debating with you, nor do I have a need to prove anything to you. However if you would like to know about the love of Christ for your life and the forgiveness of sin found in Christ, then I would be honored to share that with you.  That normally ended it, however that type of answer said kindly plants a seed, keeping it open for future talks.

Such a difference from my early days when I felt the need to defend the Gospel. By living the Gospel the defense of it is diminished. The reality of it is seen in us as we are being changed from Grace to Grace. I find that most of the questions  stem from doubt or hurt, from others who were poor examples or had struggles of their own walking with Christ. However it’s hard to argue with someone who genuinely cares for you and wants your best. This Grace only comes from Christ abiding in us to excess, “and running over.”   In Luke 6:38

“Running over” is a characteristic of our Heavenly Father, if you want a double stoop of Rocky Road ice cream He gives you a triple, that’s just how He is. And as we continue to abide in Him He not only fills our void, since we leak daily, but He over fills us so we can go out and love on others. Sitting before Him, quieting my soul to be able to receive from Him is my part, filling me up is His part. Hence I can walk in peace and not strive with people. I am not  here to exalt myself, but the Lord, now back to our verses.

In the next temptation, Satan even quotes scripture;

This again follows the first points. People, especially cult groups claiming to be Christians will use the scriptures wrongfully doing exactly what Christ said not to do, testing God and unfortunately some have suffered the consequences. In Mark 16:15-18

This literally happened to Paul in Acts Acts 28:3-6
“And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped — the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
And he — shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him,o  they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but ( only) one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
But I keep-under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead,
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press ( to purse, press forward, exert effort, diligent) toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus ( The Gold).” And how?

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Amen.