His responses to the devil can become ours. Indeed each of these quotes are taken from the book of Deuteronomy, that story of the people of Israel’s forty years wanderings through the desert to the promised land – a blue print of our struggles too on our journey home to our Father’s house.
‘Man does not live on bread alone’ – Though immersed in, and in need of many material and tangible things to sustain us in life, yet our faith tells us that this is not our real life, no, our real life is the faith we have in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us.
…’but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ First and foremost, the Word, with a capital ‘W’’, Jesus Christ, was breathed forth by the Father, to become man eventually, to suffer and die and be our Saviour. It is only through, with and in Him that we can return to the Father. Because of our love and faith in Jesus, the words of Scripture, ‘the revealed love letter’, as it has been described, came to enlighten and lead us home. ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone.’
“Exalt the Lord in your praises as high as you may – still he surpasses you. Exert all your strength when you exalt Him, do not grow tired, you will never come to an end.
We could say much more and still fall short, to put it concisely - He is all.
Is not this the worship and service that shapes our lives. Our inward eye is fixed steadfastly on Him. It is indeed your face. O Lord, that I seek.
In response to the devil’s third temptation Jesus replies ‘you shall not tempt the Lord, your God.’ In the context of Deuteronomy, Jesus’ response is reminding us to do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord that it may go well with us.’ So let us earnestly pray ‘It is your face, O Lord, that I seek, hide not your face.’
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