Stones become bread!

As I mentioned in my previous post I got hung up on Matthew 4 where Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Sometimes when I read a passage like this I try to think about what it must have been like. I try to picture what the scene was like back then. Let me give you a couple of things that went through my mind.

What did Satan look like when he and Christ met in the desert? Was he in the form of a serpent like he was when he tempted Eve? Was he some type of desert viper sliding across the sand making his way to the rendezvous point? Did he speak to Christ with a serpent's lisp? Or did he take on the appearance of a man. Maybe a man lying under a shade tree being fanned by some of his demons while others fed him grapes and still others were grilling several leg of lambs and lamb chops. And did I mention that in my mind this was happening on day 39 when Christ "was hungry".

Something else I tend to do is ask "What if?" What if Christ would have said "OK, stones become bread!" and he began to eat. Would Satan have bowed down and worshiped him? Would Satan have said "Wow, now I see the light, you are truly who you say you are!" Absolutely not. Satan was in the very presence of God in heaven and he fell. He knew who Christ was. Satan's was not really interested in finding out who Jesus really was, He knew. His goal was to destroy Christ and to nullify God's plan of redemption.

As I thought about this I wondered how many times I have said "Stones become bread!" in other words how many times have I given in to the enemy thinking it would turn out the way it should. How many people have said "Stones become bread" and left their wife or husband. How many people have said "Stones become bread!" and picked up the bottle of Jack Daniels thinking they can handle it. How many have said "Stones become bread!" and destroyed someone through lies and gossip. Satan is the father of lies.

John 8: 44 - You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

However, Christ defeated him with the Word of Truth. And Truth will always triumph over lies.

John 17: 17 - Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

What are we using to thwart the attacks of the enemy. Are we trying to use the power of positive thinking? Are we trying to use Karma? Are we trying some new drug that will keep us in a happy place. I am afraid that if this is what you are using you will eventually be defeated. Christ had anything and everything at his disposal but he chose to use the Word of God, the truth, to defeat the attacks of the enemy. Satan says happiness is found in a bottle of Jack Daniels but the Word of God says to be filled with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5: 18. When Satan says to gossip or lie about someone God's word says to rid ourselves of all slander I Peter 2: 1.

Satan knows our weaknesses, he knows when we are hungry, he is waiting for us to give in and say "Stones become bread!"