Choose Life!

The 4/4 verse of the day is a two-fer. The content of Mat 4:4 and Luke 4:4 is almost identical. Jesus must have really wanted us to get this concept. Mat 4:4 says, “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” This is mirrored in Luke 4:4, “Jesus answered, ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’”

It is interesting to me that both of the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke have almost identical verses in chapter 4, verse 4. No one has to convince me that every word written in the bible is somehow important to us. But I am especially mindful when God finds is necessary to repeat something in different parts of scripture. I think he really wants us to get the importance and significance of the point he is trying to drive home when he does that.

To add impact to the importance of this repetition, we can find more reference to the above scripture content back in the Old Testament. In Deut 8:3, God is talking to the Israelites, stressing how they were humbled and their hearts were tested to keep his commands in their lengthy desert experience. The latter part of that verse concludes with, “to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

This is incredible to me. God is so intentional about providing us the necessary wisdom to truly live life. He put a need in our hearts to feed and grow on his truth for our spiritual health. Dietary sustenance is one thing; it is necessary to keep our bodies alive. But spiritual sustenance, God’s truth, is the only thing that will give us true life. Feeding our bodies is a life of mere existence. Feeding our spirit and soul with God’s word and truth is truly living.

I heard my husand quote something from Greg Laurie recently. He said, "You can have a saved soul, but a lost life." That's incredibly tragic. Especially when God has left us instructions on how to live better than that. Friends, let's live on his word, apply it to our lives, and choose LIFE.