Read Matthew 4:1-11

In some of the old western movies, the bad guys would be thrown into the town jail and given nothing more to eat than bread and water. This was intended as a form of further punishment beyond being thrown in jail to starve the prisoner into submission.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He had been fasting for 40 days when Satan came to tempt Him. Knowing how hungry Jesus would be, Satan tries to tempt him with this great weakness.

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:3-4 NIV

Jesus understood that God had far more to offer than just “bread and water” for His people. He intended for His people to abundant lives filled with joy and peace beyond measure. Sadly, many of His followers today choose to live shallow lives because they settle for the cheap imitations that the world has to offer instead of walking in God’s ways.

In your relationship with God, are you living on bread and water or on the so much more that God wants you to have?
In what ways are you settling for less than God’s best for your life?
Lord Jesus, give me a hunger for the best feast you have to offer rather than settling for the bread of this world! In Jesus’ Name Amen,

(This devotion first appeared in devotional publication Take 5 Plus)