Isaiah 55:1-11
Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread,
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.
As I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of nations,
so shall you summon a nation you knew not,
and nations that knew you not shall run to you,
because of the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.
Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked man his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.
For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
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There are several options listed for readings today, and this is one of them. There's a lot of meat here, but I'm going to focus on the last paragraph shown above. The Word of God does not return void. God sent us his Word in the person of Jesus Christ -- who did not return void, but achieved the Lord's will.
Guess what? We have that living inside us! The living Lord Himself, who's ways are far above ours, and thoughts are far above ours. He who does not return void, and He who achieves the Lord's will. He is EVERYTHING that we need to rise above the life in the flesh. He is the water. He is the wine and milk. He is the rich fare that we can eat, and have life.
O Lord Jesus, help me to forsake my way and my thoughts, and turn to you for mercy!
Showing posts with label Isaiah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Isaiah. Show all posts
Monday, January 9, 2012
Friday, April 10, 2009
Daily - 4/10/09
Isaiah 55:1-11
1 All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!
2 Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare.
3 Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.
4 As I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of nations,
5 So shall you summon a nation you knew not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, Because of the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near.
7 Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his thoughts; Let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
9 As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.
10 For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats,
11 So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it
-----------
This is from the Easter Vigil, something like the 24th reading. (Just kidding, Msgr.) I love this passage. I'll just give some quick thoughts:
- Come to the water. Christ is the living water, the water of baptism, of cleansing, of spiritual rebirth.
- Come. It's free. Don't waste your time and money on useless things, or poor imitations. Come to Him, and delight in rich fare.
- The gates of heaven will open to all, both Jews and Gentiles.
- Seek the Lord while he may be found. We only are given a certain amount of time. We are reminded to use that time well, while we still have it. He is generous and forgiving -- come to Him.
- v8 - 9: I laughed out loud when I saw this. In yesterday's message, I said that I don't think I'll ever really understand why the plan of salvation had to work the way it did. God's answer is right here, and it's the EXACT same answer he gave to Job. "Matt, you may think you're smart, but my ways are above yours, and my thoughts are above yours. So give it up, dude."
- v10-11: The Word of God has a life of it's own. It rains upon the world, and it does not return void. It WILL achieve the end for which it was sent.
1 All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!
2 Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare.
3 Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.
4 As I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of nations,
5 So shall you summon a nation you knew not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, Because of the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near.
7 Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his thoughts; Let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
9 As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.
10 For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats,
11 So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it
-----------
This is from the Easter Vigil, something like the 24th reading. (Just kidding, Msgr.) I love this passage. I'll just give some quick thoughts:
- Come to the water. Christ is the living water, the water of baptism, of cleansing, of spiritual rebirth.
- Come. It's free. Don't waste your time and money on useless things, or poor imitations. Come to Him, and delight in rich fare.
- The gates of heaven will open to all, both Jews and Gentiles.
- Seek the Lord while he may be found. We only are given a certain amount of time. We are reminded to use that time well, while we still have it. He is generous and forgiving -- come to Him.
- v8 - 9: I laughed out loud when I saw this. In yesterday's message, I said that I don't think I'll ever really understand why the plan of salvation had to work the way it did. God's answer is right here, and it's the EXACT same answer he gave to Job. "Matt, you may think you're smart, but my ways are above yours, and my thoughts are above yours. So give it up, dude."
- v10-11: The Word of God has a life of it's own. It rains upon the world, and it does not return void. It WILL achieve the end for which it was sent.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Daily - 4/9/09
Isaiah 52:13-15, 53:1-12 (Good Friday, first reading)
Chapter 52
13 See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.
14 Even as many were amazed at him-- so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals--
15 So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; For those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it.
Chapter 53
1 Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him.
3 He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem.
4 Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.
6 We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all.
7 Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.
8 Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people,
9 A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood.
10 (But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.
11 Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.
12 Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.
-------------
This probably the most quoted part of the Song of the Suffering Servant, and it clearly lays out Christ's purpose.
It took me until I was 32 years old to even begin to think about WHY Christ had to die. I knew the words "for our sake he was crucified," but I had no grasp of why that had to be. Why he had to come, why he had to live the life he lived, and why He had to die. Truthfully, there's a part of me that will never understand why that all had to come to pass in this fashion.
Regardless of my ability to understand it, Christ came for a purpose. Every gift he had was made for that purpose. He lived his whole life toward that purpose, beginning to end. Everything he did was focused on that purpose.
Lately I've been reading "Introduction to the Devout Life" by St. Francis de Sales, and it spends some time talking about how we as individuals can apply that to our own life. Here's how the thinking goes:
- Consider your strengths, gifts, talents, etc.
- Understand that they came from God, NOT me
- Be thankful for those gifts
- Realize that God gave them to you for a purpose
- Use them for their intended purpose
I've just started taking the time to go through this mental process. The first thing I can say is that it's humbling. The second thing I can say is that it is life changing. It really forces you to think. What am I good at? God made me this way ... have I thanked Him? WHY has God made me this way, and given me the gifts that He has?
And here's the life-changer ... am I using this gift the way God wants me to?
Chapter 52
13 See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.
14 Even as many were amazed at him-- so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals--
15 So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; For those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it.
Chapter 53
1 Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him.
3 He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem.
4 Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.
6 We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all.
7 Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.
8 Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people,
9 A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood.
10 (But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.
11 Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.
12 Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.
-------------
This probably the most quoted part of the Song of the Suffering Servant, and it clearly lays out Christ's purpose.
It took me until I was 32 years old to even begin to think about WHY Christ had to die. I knew the words "for our sake he was crucified," but I had no grasp of why that had to be. Why he had to come, why he had to live the life he lived, and why He had to die. Truthfully, there's a part of me that will never understand why that all had to come to pass in this fashion.
Regardless of my ability to understand it, Christ came for a purpose. Every gift he had was made for that purpose. He lived his whole life toward that purpose, beginning to end. Everything he did was focused on that purpose.
Lately I've been reading "Introduction to the Devout Life" by St. Francis de Sales, and it spends some time talking about how we as individuals can apply that to our own life. Here's how the thinking goes:
- Consider your strengths, gifts, talents, etc.
- Understand that they came from God, NOT me
- Be thankful for those gifts
- Realize that God gave them to you for a purpose
- Use them for their intended purpose
I've just started taking the time to go through this mental process. The first thing I can say is that it's humbling. The second thing I can say is that it is life changing. It really forces you to think. What am I good at? God made me this way ... have I thanked Him? WHY has God made me this way, and given me the gifts that He has?
And here's the life-changer ... am I using this gift the way God wants me to?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Daily - 4/7/09
Isaiah 50:4-9a (Wednesday's First Reading)
4 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, That I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear;
5 And I have not rebelled, have not turned back.
6 I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.
7 The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let him confront me.
9 See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong?
------------------
This was also the first reading on Palm Sunday.
The Suffering Servant describes His relationship with God. He is fully aware of that his gifts come completely from God. His mission is one of teaching, healing, and humility. He knows he will face extreme challenges, and he does so without complaining, and without letting his pride control his actions. He relies on the Lord, and only the Lord, for help.
As v4 says, the Servant relies on God every morning to open his ear that He may hear. This is the model for us. If we are willing to give up control and rely on God completely, He will take care of us. How many of us ask God every day to open our ears that we may hear, and ask Him to give us a well-trained tongue so we can comfort the weary?
Here's the trick, though. We must come to God in humility. It is when we are weak, that we are strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). How many of us can even approach Christ's example of humility? Not many, but I do know this for certain: we are called to try. If we submit our pride to God, he will transform us over time. God makes all of this possible for us.
4 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, That I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear;
5 And I have not rebelled, have not turned back.
6 I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.
7 The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let him confront me.
9 See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong?
------------------
This was also the first reading on Palm Sunday.
The Suffering Servant describes His relationship with God. He is fully aware of that his gifts come completely from God. His mission is one of teaching, healing, and humility. He knows he will face extreme challenges, and he does so without complaining, and without letting his pride control his actions. He relies on the Lord, and only the Lord, for help.
As v4 says, the Servant relies on God every morning to open his ear that He may hear. This is the model for us. If we are willing to give up control and rely on God completely, He will take care of us. How many of us ask God every day to open our ears that we may hear, and ask Him to give us a well-trained tongue so we can comfort the weary?
Here's the trick, though. We must come to God in humility. It is when we are weak, that we are strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). How many of us can even approach Christ's example of humility? Not many, but I do know this for certain: we are called to try. If we submit our pride to God, he will transform us over time. God makes all of this possible for us.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Daily - 4/6/09
Isaiah 49:1-12 (Tuesday's 1st reading)
1 Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
2 He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me.
3 You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory.
4 Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.
5 For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength!
6 It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
7 Thus says the LORD, the redeemer and the Holy One of Israel, To the one despised, whom the nations abhor, the slave of rulers: When kings see you, they shall stand up, and princes shall prostrate themselves Because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.
8 Thus says the LORD: In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you, To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages,
9 Saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves! Along the ways they shall find pasture, on every bare height shall their pastures be.
10 They shall not hunger or thirst, nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them; For he who pities them leads them and guides them beside springs of water.
11 I will cut a road through all my mountains, and make my highways level.
12 See, some shall come from afar, others from the north and the west, and some from the land of Syene.
-------------------
I'm leaving the gospels today because I want to touch on the readings we see from Isaiah this week. Isaiah chapters 49, 50, 51, and 53 are known as the Song of the Suffering Servant. These four passages, written 700+ years before Jesus was born, describe the role of Jesus (the servant) in the history of salvation. These four chapters are truly the great connector between the Old Testament and the New. They are worth the read.
The song opens with the servant speaking. The servant is Jesus, and immediately we see his purpose. He describes Himself as a sharp edged sword, which is the very same imagery used to describe the Word of God in Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17. Jesus is the Word Incarnate, the sharp sword of God, and as v3 says, He is the servant through whom God shows his glory.
1 Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name.
2 He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me.
3 You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory.
4 Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.
5 For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength!
6 It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
7 Thus says the LORD, the redeemer and the Holy One of Israel, To the one despised, whom the nations abhor, the slave of rulers: When kings see you, they shall stand up, and princes shall prostrate themselves Because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.
8 Thus says the LORD: In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you, To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages,
9 Saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves! Along the ways they shall find pasture, on every bare height shall their pastures be.
10 They shall not hunger or thirst, nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them; For he who pities them leads them and guides them beside springs of water.
11 I will cut a road through all my mountains, and make my highways level.
12 See, some shall come from afar, others from the north and the west, and some from the land of Syene.
-------------------
I'm leaving the gospels today because I want to touch on the readings we see from Isaiah this week. Isaiah chapters 49, 50, 51, and 53 are known as the Song of the Suffering Servant. These four passages, written 700+ years before Jesus was born, describe the role of Jesus (the servant) in the history of salvation. These four chapters are truly the great connector between the Old Testament and the New. They are worth the read.
The song opens with the servant speaking. The servant is Jesus, and immediately we see his purpose. He describes Himself as a sharp edged sword, which is the very same imagery used to describe the Word of God in Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17. Jesus is the Word Incarnate, the sharp sword of God, and as v3 says, He is the servant through whom God shows his glory.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Daily - 1/12/09
Isaiah 55:1-3
1 All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!
2 Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare.
3 Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.
---------------------
God invites us to come to him, to lay our burdens at his feet, and to give over control of our lives to him. As verse 2 says, we spend so much time fighting that – spending our time, money, and effort on things that fail to satisfy. In reality, all we need is Christ. Check the end of verse 2: if we heed Him (ie, remain in him), we will eat well, and delight in rich fare.
We are to come heedfully, and listen, that we may have life. Father Martin did a great job describing this image in his homily this weekend. We can lay down our burdens – anxiety, fear, stress … ANYTHING – at Christ’s feet. He will accept the burden. If we can just as individuals trust God enough to give over control to Him, our paths become so much straighter. Here’s a little more Scripture to reinforce the point.
-------------
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not;
6 In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
1 All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!
2 Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare.
3 Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.
---------------------
God invites us to come to him, to lay our burdens at his feet, and to give over control of our lives to him. As verse 2 says, we spend so much time fighting that – spending our time, money, and effort on things that fail to satisfy. In reality, all we need is Christ. Check the end of verse 2: if we heed Him (ie, remain in him), we will eat well, and delight in rich fare.
We are to come heedfully, and listen, that we may have life. Father Martin did a great job describing this image in his homily this weekend. We can lay down our burdens – anxiety, fear, stress … ANYTHING – at Christ’s feet. He will accept the burden. If we can just as individuals trust God enough to give over control to Him, our paths become so much straighter. Here’s a little more Scripture to reinforce the point.
-------------
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not;
6 In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Daily - 4/24/08
The Bible has quite a bit to say about itself. Here are a few examples:
Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12: Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
Isaiah 40:7-8: The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it. (So then, the people is the grass.) Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 55:10-11: For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down, And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Many of us remember that Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation with Scripture. But also note that Satan himself used Scripture:
Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.
3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread."
4 He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'"
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you and 'with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"
7 Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"
8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
9 and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me."
10 At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.'"
11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
We’ve been given a tool that is alive and is extremely powerful – causing effects in those that receive it. It does not return void, it separates bone and marrow, soul and spirit. The tool is so powerful that Satan tried to use it against Christ himself! To me, the message in all of this is clear – we are called to be familiar with the Word of God, and call upon it in our daily lives.
Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12: Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
Isaiah 40:7-8: The grass withers, the flower wilts, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it. (So then, the people is the grass.) Though the grass withers and the flower wilts, the word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 55:10-11: For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down, And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Many of us remember that Jesus responded to Satan’s temptation with Scripture. But also note that Satan himself used Scripture:
Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.
3 The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread."
4 He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.'"
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you and 'with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"
7 Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"
8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
9 and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me."
10 At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.'"
11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
We’ve been given a tool that is alive and is extremely powerful – causing effects in those that receive it. It does not return void, it separates bone and marrow, soul and spirit. The tool is so powerful that Satan tried to use it against Christ himself! To me, the message in all of this is clear – we are called to be familiar with the Word of God, and call upon it in our daily lives.
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