Matthew 4:4

Scripture: Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Observation: EVERY WORD! We should (that's the current version of shall...) live by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. I am a gentile, I never was under the law. No where in my family's history were we Jews - that means we were never required to obey the 10 commandments, we were never required to keep sabbath, we were never required to tithe... but... BUT... as a Christian, I should still live by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God - that means, that it is still profitable for me to observe those things - it is still profitable for me to take a day of rest, it is still profitable for me to observe the 10 commandments, it is profitable for me to tithe. It has absolutely nothing to do with my salvation... but it still applies to my life and is an instruction in righteousness.

Application: There is so much strife and division in the world of Christians today and the majority of it comes from things like this... It seems like many Christians are perfectly willing to quote 2 Timothy 3:16  (All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ) and will say that they believe EVERY word of God is true... but when it comes to acting on it... then, all of the sudden, they change their stand and start claiming that the Old Testament doesn't apply to us... that it was written for the Jews... And I admit... much of it was... but I also know that this verse in Matthew is Jesus Christ speaking... and HE says man SHALL live by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Surely, if Jesus says it, in the New Testament, then it is applies (Read that again... applies, not is written to) to Christians. (Yes... I realize He is still talking to the Jews.... but God recorded it in the Bible, and therefore, it is written to Christians. It is still profitable according to 2 Timothy 3:16) Point being... We need to read and live by every word in the bible. We are not under the law, we do not do it for salvation, and many of the things in the law were fulfilled by Christ, so they no longer apply... but they are always clearly abolished (like the veil of the temple being torn down and making the way to the Holy of Holys open to everyone... we no longer need to go to a priest, Christ gave us access directly to God.) The things that the bible does not clearly abolish, are still profitable for us to abide by today.

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your word and for the knowledge that I can live according to it, and thank you especially for the help in doing so. My prayer today, Lord, is for those that may read my fumbling words... Lord, please use this to speak to hearts - there are so many issues that we face simply because we do not want to know the truth of Your word, and if we do know it, we so often don't want to live by it. I pray Lord, that You will bless these words and use them to speak to the hearts of those that are facing division and uncertainty, to those that have been led astray, and to those who have wandered far from the life You desire for them to live. In Jesus name, Amen.