ESOCS Devotional 2 February 2026 – Prioritising God’s Word
MEMORY VERSE: “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:4 KJV
TEXT: LUKE 4:1-13
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”
5 [d]Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you,’
11 and,
‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
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This was Jesus’ response to the Devil’s first temptation in the wilderness, after fasting for 40 days. In the above text, our Lord Jesus Christ quoted, as it is written in Deuteronomy 8:3.
The text highlights that true satisfaction comes from God’s truth, not just material possessions or physical comfort. It teaches that we must actively seek and live by God’s revealed word to truly survive.
Man is a spirit being, and so needs more of Divine relationship than hunger for physical food. Physical sustenance is not enough for true life. While bread provides sustenance for the body, the word of God provides nourishment for the soul. It points to the need for a deeper, spiritual connection with God in order to experience true fulfillment and vitality.
The word of God, when eaten, brings more Joy and gladness (Jeremiah 15:16). The word of God brings faith, which is what pleases God (Romans 10:17; Hebrew 11:6). The word of God brings salvation (Romans 1:16).
Jesus, in His response, emphasizes the importance of spiritual sustenance over physical indulgence. In a world focused on material success and the pursuit of physical needs, this message serves as a reminder of the ultimate priority of seeking and obeying God’s word. It challenges the notion of self-sufficiency and urges individuals to recognize their need for God to truly live a meaningful and purposeful life. This principle can be linked to our daily lives, showing how a relationship with God gives meaning to our existence and helps us make the right choices, even when it involves personal sacrifice, than focusing on food and other fleshly desires.
The wilderness setting where Jesus is tempted represents a place of testing and spiritual warfare. It parallels the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness, as well as the struggles that individuals face in their own faith journeys. Jesus’s victory over the devil’s temptations serves as a model for believers, demonstrating the power of relying on God’s word to overcome spiritual challenges and stay true to one’s faith.
Reflections
- Does the word of God reflect in your daily activities as a believer?
Prayer
- God, give me the grace to crave for your word more than physical food.
Further Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7; 61:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:26-End; 2:1-5
ESOCS Devotional 2 February 2026
