The Lord Ignored the Devil's "If's"

Luke 4:4

 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

                                                         

The Lord spoke to the devil’s challenge of his identity.  The devil told Him that if He was the Son of God He should do what the devil told him to do in order to prove it.  The Lord showed us a great truth.  He never let the devil define conditions that He would obey.  The Lord’s Word is the only word that any of us are to submit to in absolute obedience.  It is His “if” statements that should lead us.  If we are risen with Christ we should seek those things which are above.  If we live in the Spirit, we should walk in the Spirit.  If any of us lacks wisdom, let us ask for it.  If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  It is every Word of God that should illicit response.  The challenges of our adversary are rooted in the destroyer’s intent.  We can escape these things IF we follow the Lord’s example and ignore the devil’s challenges and take heed to God’s commands.