“And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
— Luke 4:3-4
Why did the devil say, “if” you are the Son of God? Because he wanted Jesus to doubt that He was the Son of God. Perhaps he elaborated a little more saying, “You sure don’t look like the Son of God. You’re so thin and gaunt. The Son of God wouldn’t look like that, now would He? Are you sure you’re His Son? Prove it – to yourself and to me. Turn this stone into bread!” After 40 days of no food, circumstances and feelings did not make it easy for Jesus to refute what satan was saying. BUT He said, “We don’t live by bread alone, but by what my Father says”.
What were the Father’s words to Jesus six weeks earlier as He came up out of the Jordan River? This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased! Jesus remembered who He was – His true identity by remembering the words His Father spoke earlier. He remembered “This is My Beloved Son.” He did not have to prove who He was to the devil or to Himself. He found His identity in His Father’s words.
Jesus is showing you and me how to respond to the devil who always attacks our identity. No matter how you feel or what your circumstances are, you must know what the Father says about you in order to respond correctly to the lies of the enemy. You are made acceptable in the beloved (Ephs 1:6) meaning you are His beloved child, too. Remind yourself of that. Don’t accept satan’s lies. You are defined by the Word of God. Nothing can change that.
“Jesus has been through the darkest night; The Father’s love was there.”.
Whose Words Will You Choose?