January 14 - Jesus’ Real Food—Obeying the Father

“He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4).

Above all, Satan’s temptations of Jesus Christ solicited His rebellion against the Father. But Jesus had come to earth to do the Father’s will and nothing else. In fact, His will and the Father’s were precisely the same (John 5:30; cf. 10:30; Heb. 10:9).

Case in point: In the ultimate test of obedience, just prior to His arrest and betrayal, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”. . . “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done” (Matt. 26:39, 42). This supreme example of absolute trust and submission by Jesus to His Father is what Satan tried to smash. In his proudest and wickedest manner, the enemy attempted to fracture the Trinitarian nature of the Godhead.

But Christ, in His immeasurable humility and righteousness, replied to Satan’s first words, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” All three of our Lord’s responses to Satan would begin with the simple but straightforward appeal to the Word of God—“It is written” (cf. Ps. 119:11). In quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, Jesus affirmed that believers are far better off depending on God and waiting on His provision than they are in grabbing for their own satisfaction—something we all are tempted to do.

You may feel unsure of what God’s will is for you, but much of it is spelled out clearly in Scripture. How well are you obeying the aspects of His will that have already been revealed to you? In seeking to know His plan, a good place to start is always obedience to His Word.

Note: Prescribed Will (His subjects have no choice, "thelema" in the Gk) versus Preferential Will (you have a choice; "prothumos" or "boulomai" in the Gk)~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When God's Will is executed,
the following benefits result:

"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,
according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
(Ephesians 1:9 AV)

o Dead to the powers of Sin and Satan
o Dedication to The God of Creation (Rom. 12:1-2)
o Dread of disappointing one's Heavenly Father (Ps. 128:1)
o Discipleship under a Servant of The God
o Dutiful to the commands of The Christ
o Deference to the ordinance of man
o Delight in suffering for The Lord Jesus Christ
o Diligence in giving thanks at all times concerning all things
o Deliverance from this present fallen world
o Dwelling n the bosom of Our Savior, Master, and Friend

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us" (1 John 3:23-24 AV)

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