Matthew 4:4-11
Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
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.” Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him,“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’
” Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. ”Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Memory Verse: It is written “His word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path”. Psalm 119:105
Some days ago, I woke up thinking of how I balance life. I remember my mum always tells me prayer is like a contribution, an act which is very essential to balancing life. Most people from West Africa, precisely Nigeria, where I was born understand the concept of “thrift”. An individual, mostly sellers or service providers in small market trades, decide to save an agreed amount with a thrift collector on either a daily, weekly, or monthly basis for an specified period of time and at the end of the period, the thrift collector returns the lump sum of all amounts contributed less the agreed fee. In another type of thrift, a group a people agree to a collection and their contribution goes to the collector on the agreed frequency. Each individual takes collection in turns depending on how many are in the group so everyone in the group takes out an advance payment whiles they continue to make regular repayment, but the last person takes back their savings.
In both cases you end up taking out what you’ve put in and while I remember my mum said this about prayer, I decided to relate this to my study life and every other thing that had to do with my spiritual development.
The temptation of Jesus is one which highlights the importance on not just praying but studying and absorbing the word of God. The bible tells us that Jesus began to spend His time in the temple from the Age of 12. Jesus stayed back when His parent had left the temple and he remained there for three days listening to the teacher, absorbing the word of God and learning. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. Luke 2:46.
Jesus was God in human flesh on earth, but He still invested quality time learning the word of God and when the tempter came, He was a lot of steps ahead. He did not go into unnecessary conversations with the devil but referred always to what is written in the bible.
How much of the word of God do you spend time absorbing? Unless you know what is written in the word of God, the devil and his agents will trample you under feet and the world will mislead you.
It is written “His word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” Psalm 119:105.
Everything in the bible is valid and can be used as a daily guide but only if you know what is written.
PRAYERS:
- Father I am thankful for your word is full of life and understanding
- Thank you for your love, and for being a great teacher and role model
- Forgive my sins Lord, I rededicate my life to you
- Help me Lord to pray consistently and not worry
- Help me to study your word daily and consistently and put them to practice in my daily life
- Help me to do the extraordinary and attain higher heights
- I surrender all my Plans to you, take them and transform them to your will
- Help me to stand and walk with you all through this year and not rely on self
- Help me never to take you out of the picture but to abide and seek you always
- Bless me Lord and answer my prayers, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
