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.
Living by every word that proceeds from God means exactly what it says, for in every situation we may find ourselves in, there is an instruction, a law, a principle, or a statute in God's word that can referenced for guidance and direction. What we do not know can hurt us, or cause us to stumble unnecessarily, and satan often tempts us to sin in areas where the word of God is not known, or has not been properly understood. The above passage teaches us the all-important lesson of having an active reference of scriptural knowledge at our disposal, so that we do not inadvertently place our feet in the many snares the devil has set for the unwary.
For instance, when Naaman came to Elisha for healing from his leprosy, the prophet gave him some simple instructions to follow, but he became annoyed with the simplicity of the command, and thus satan was able to tempt him on what he did not know, and he almost went back to Syria without being cured, had it not been for the earnest entreaties of his servants. Let's read:
2nd Kings 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
Naaman went away in a rage because he did not know what the scriptures have to say on the curing of leprosy. Actually, Elisha was just repeating what was already written in the word of God, and therefore his instructions to Naaman were not arbitrary by any stretch of the imagination. Let's read:
Leviticus 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.
In our day we are tempted on numerous points, and many, even amongst Christians end up falling for what we do not know. Many of us are involved in activities, and many Christians eat certain foods, not knowing that we are doing serious damage to our delicate organism, and as a result we often get sick, or suffer unnecessary hardship and perplexity because we are not aware of what the word of God says on those very points.
God is calling on all people to study His word deliberately and intently so that we may not walk in darkness, nor stumble at the obstacles satan places before us. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which calls everyone back to a study of God's word, for our sanity, health, success, and salvation depend on it. Let's read:
2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
May the light of God's word shine brilliantly into the recesses of our minds, so that we may walk in the light, even as He is in the light. God bless!