Self-Reliance

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

SELF-RELIANCE

Matt 4:1-4

4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 

NIV

It is interesting that Jesus had just experienced one of the greatest highs having the Holy Spirit descend upon him and hearing the voice of God the Father declaring that Jesus was His Son and that He was well pleased with him, then by the influence of that Spirit he is sent out into the desert to fast for forty days, and be tempted or tested by the devil. There are several truths here that are of interest.  First, we could compare This experience of Jesus, the second Adam, that he won the battle with the devil, as compared to the first Adam who lost his battle with the devil. Because of the first Adam, mankind was ruined, however, because of Jesus, the second Adam, Mankind is redeemed. It is also interesting that two of the Old Testament men fasted for forty days and forty nights. Both Moses and Elijah fasted, and it was at a time they were in complete union or communion with God. This is not to say that for us to find that kind of communion with God that we need to fast for forty days and forty nights, but it is just interesting that what Jesus did is sort of the same thing, in that he spent time alone with the Father and the Spirit. It was not till after his fast had been completed that the devil came to tempt him. This does give us some insight into our lives. It was when Jesus was hungry the devil came to him to tempt him with food, with providing himself with food by turning stones into bread. Hey, if you are a true believer in Jesus, you can do this or that, you can become famous, or well known, or wealthy, all on your own, with your own skills and talents. There are all sorts of schemes the devil can come up with to tempt us to trust ourselves rather than on every word that comes from the mouth of God. This is what he was tempting Jesus to do, trust in his own abilities as the Son of God, to break his allegiance with the Father. We know Jesus would never do that but are we confident that we would do never break our allegiance with God and look to ourselves for our needs. This morning we were just reminded that the Lord is our shepherd, we will not want. He is the one who shows us where the green pasture is, the place in our lives where we are provided for, where through his leading we are where we are supposed to be. He is the one who causes us to lay beside still waters, that he is the one who calms our hearts, that gives us the peace of mind, the world cannot give. He is the one who restores us, gives us life, sustains our life, even when it seems we are fading away, losing the fight, so to speak, getting down, experiencing a little despair, or even depression. We need not be concerned with our provisions, or search our own way in life, depending on ourselves for whatever we need. That is the scheme, the temptation to make these stones into bread. No, each one can choose for themselves, but as for me and my household, we will rely on God.