“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
Dear Ones:
How important is a word? In the case of Christ dying on the cross, and uttering, “It is finished,” I believe we can say with assurance that those words were eternally important because of the work of redemption that they represent. We can also say that they were important because of the ONE who spoke them. As was the case when the Lord Jesus ministered by preaching and teaching, speaking with an authority and power that was unlike any other man, we find that His words are Life-giving, given by the same God that created the world. What then should our perspective be with regard to the “word of God,” as compared with the words of men?
In the book of Isaiah, the Lord draws a remarkable, and very clear, contrast between “all flesh,” with all that we would consider as good and lovely, and the “word of our God.” On the one hand, “all flesh” is like grass and the flower of the field, subject to the effects of wind, sun, and rain, to the point that, it fades, and passes away. This is not so with “the word of our God,” which shall stand FOREVER.” (40:8) Why does the Lord use this illustration? It is for the same reason that the author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote: “For the word of God is quick (living), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” (4:12) The word of the Lord will stand because it is from heaven, from God Himself, even the manifestation and revelation of Him. John the Apostle brings this clearly before us when he writes: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (1:14) Here is perhaps the clearest, and most powerful statement, with regard to the worth, and power of the Word, the living Word. The objective Word of God is the truthful revelation of God in its objective form. The Living Word, the Lord Jesus, is the very greatest and highest expression of this TRUTH of God’s person, His Life, for He IS God.
Again, we need to ask ourselves the question, “How important is the word of God, the Bible?” And again, we go to the book of Isaiah, where the Lord gives us another illustration, this one on the subject of our thoughts and ways, as opposed to those of God. He says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your ways.” (55:9) What a contrast! What a difference in the wisdom and power of God, as opposed to that of sinful man! He then applies this truth: “So shall My word be that goes forth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please.” (v.11) The point is this, when God speaks, all the power and authority of heaven is in that spoken, or written, word. It is spoken in perfect wisdom, and will have its perfect accomplishment.
Lastly, we come back to the Lord Jesus, being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. He declares to him at one point: “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Why does He declare this? It is because of an infinite wisdom, love, and authority that pronounces the word (s). God’s intent and will is to save all men, and consequently to bless them to the uttermost in Christ. It is BY His words, His truth in the gospel, that this life-giving power is revealed to the soul of the sinner. The same God who spoke creation into being, “…speaks life into the dead.”
Dear Father, give us to see, as so many others have seen, that You reveal yourself to men BY Your word. You bring us to a knowledge of truth, and then save us according to that powerful word. Give us this day to embrace Your word in surrender and faith, believing You for the full outworking of Your will and purposes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad