What Jesus Did! 'More Than Bread' — Luke 4:3-4

Monday, February 20, 2023

[While Jesus was fasting in the wilderness,] the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread."

But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone.'"

— Luke 4:3-4 NLT

Key Thought

"If you are the Son ..." God had affirmed his relationship with his Son at his baptism — "You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy." [1] Jesus had no reason to doubt his relationship with his Father.

With Jesus' knowledge of Scripture, he could easily answer Satan's well-timed temptation. But, what are we to learn from this battle? We can know that Satan knows when, where, and how to attack our vulnerabilities. His enticements are often targeted as a shortcut to a real need. However,

  • our relationship with God,
  • the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and
  • the internalization of biblical truth
can help us win our battles, too. The real challenge is for us to keep each of these three areas of our faith strong! So which of these three areas most needs your attention?

[1] Luke 3:22.

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, the glorious and Almighty, deepen my relationship with you as I seek to draw closer to you. Have your Spirit take a greater influence in my life as I intentionally seek to yield to your will and your influence in my life. As I read the Bible, press your truth into the fiber of my soul. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Ephesians 6:10-13
  • 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
  • 1 Peter 5:8

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Illustration

Illustration of Luke 4:3-4 NLT — "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread." —— "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone.'"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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