Genesis 3:1-21; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I remember taking notes for classes in school. Throughout the years, I had to learn how to take good notes, instead of just writing down everything the teacher said. Of course, the teachers were there to help you. They wanted you to have good notes that would be helpful in their class. So, on many occasions, I remember a teacher or two stop their lecture and tell us, “This is important! You’ll want to write this down.”

In many ways, this is how we have the bible. Throughout the years of God teaching his people, he would inspire them to write down his word. It was important; thus it should be written down. The written Word is important because it’s far more permanent than stories passed on by verbal tradition, spoken from one generation to the next. It’s important that we have it to read and reread, clarify what we have forgotten, and remain sure of God’s word spoken to us throughout the centuries.

In our Gospel lesson this week, we see Jesus’ reliance on the written word to fend off the temptations of Satan. “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But [Jesus] answered, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,”” Matthew 4:3-4. For this has always been Satan’s attack against us. He wants us to doubt or question the Word of God. This is how he tempted Eve and Adam, “Did God really say…?” Genesis 3:1. 

To have God’s word recorded, written for our learning is something we shouldn’t so quickly discard. Of course, we know the Bible is important. We say that, at least. But how do we live it? All too often, we set the bible aside because we “don’t have time” to read it; we’re “too busy” to spend time studying it right now; or we find it boring because “we already know it.” This is more than coming to church once a week. Attending a service is important, of course, but that can’t be our only interaction with God’s word. We need to be in it constantly, even daily. We need to remind ourselves what God has spoken to us lest Satan cause us to stumble.

This is of the utmost importance for us that we read, study, ponder, contemplate, and digest the very Word of God. The bible is far more than rules and laws. Indeed, it shows us how we’ve sinned and fallen short, how we’ve discarded God’s word. But God recorded for us something far more important. He recorded Christ. He wrote down for us his love that we may be reminded of it, filled with it, even to live by it. It is written that Jesus came down from heaven, was born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, was arrested, crucified for our sins, and raised for our justification! It is written that God has given you salvation and righteousness through the blood of Christ shed for you. It is written that God loved you so much to grant you forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!