Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:1-4).
Thoughts: Jesus knew the importance of bread. This should not be overlooked, for to some God is so distant and transcendent that God cannot possibly care, sympathize or begin to understand the pains of hunger and the worries that accompany staying alive. Before He ever began His ministry, Jesus fasted to the edge of starvation. It was in His deep need that the devil came to Jesus and asked Him to abuse His power for His own benefit and worldly gain. Jesus resisted simply becoming the goose that lays the golden egg (as he did when some of the 5,000 he fed wanted to make him King in order that they might have regular food). Instead Jesus said that His bread is to do God's will- and listen to the words from God's mouth (cf. Jn. 4:34). The hungry Jesus understands when we are hungry and in need. The only miracle recorded in all four gospels is the feeding of the 5,000. It shows Jesus' caring for the physical needs of those who came to hear and follow Him. So Jesus asked His disciples to pray for daily bread in part because He knew of their hunger needs, and He wanted them to acknowledge the One who provides for us.
Prayer: Lord you understand the fear of physical hunger and were tempted to worry about sustenance. Help me to trust as you did, and have peace in your provision.
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