Skip to main content

His Declaration Sustains Me

Here are some 'new' insights I got after reading a bunch of commentaries on a 'common' verse, Matthew 4:4.

My biggest realization is that the phrase 'live by every word that comes from God' most probably does not mean 'live in obedience to the commands of God' but rather, looking at the context Deuteronomy 8:3 is set in, we live by reason of every word uttered by God that preserves our life, words spoken by God which effects the preservation of our life in extraordinary supernatural ways.

In other words, I live not solely dependent on 'bread' (which I by default assume) but actually by the words of God that creates 'manna' for me. God is my sustainer and provider, declaring into being alternative supernatural resources I have access to that will keep me alive! If I depend on Him, I do not need to take things into my own hands and transgress the laws of nature (and God) to meet a need.

Live a life in complete confidence that God is able to provide and support when I am in destitute of supply. His word will bring forth manna. Wait for it.

God's provision of manna as an answer to a need for bread shows how God provides but not as we expect. Be open to alternative answers (that God has) that meet our needs. Depend on God's promise and pledge for all our needful providential care.

What is then man's duty when in need of the necessaries of life? Unbelieving murmuring, frequent desperation (like the Israelites) and the snatching despairingly at unwanted relief is completely unacceptable. Trust God for manna. Wait in faith and hope for His providential rescue.

Manna - God's alternative provision, summoned by Him to meet our need(s).


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Love. T-shirt.

I created a t-shirt. It all began when I saw some beautifully designed t-shirts for couples, in English, for sale. I wondered if there was a market for such t-shirts here, for couples in Sabah and Sarawak who would think such a t-shirt would be a great gift for his/her boy/girlfriend. Then I thought, "Why not make a t-shirt that says "I love you" but in the languages of the original peoples here in Borneo. So in my love advice FB page, Cinta Bijak 101 , I asked readers to tell me how they say "I love you' in their own individual native languages. I got a lot of answers and a list of phrases in so many languages! Now what do I do? How do I put all these words on a t-shirt without making it look like a book? Then an idea hit me. Why not arrange all these phrases so they form a heart shaped collection of phrases. It was a challenge and after many tries, my art designer finally came up with a design I loved. I took it and printed my t-shirts. From Sarawak , ...

Understanding Church Trauma

Christian  communities are expected to be our safest emotional and physical spaces. Even so, there are times this sacred space become toxic, abusive, and traumatizing to a church member when leaders and members of a congregation exhibit actions that fail to reflect the love of God. In the infographic below, four common ways church trauma is caused is identified and explained. I hope the information will help you understand what has happened to you or someone you know in church (or now no longer in the Christian community). The purpose of this post is to promote healing among those traumatized and to highlight practices that need to stop so that a Christian community is restored once again as the safest  emotional and physical space for any child of God. As you continue educating yourself on church trauma and abuse, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. If you need to, seek a mental health professional to help you better understand your condition its impact on your...