People do not live by chocolate alone

The season of Lent is now upon us. Lent is the 46-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.   It is an opportunity to pause, reflect and spend time with God in the lead up to Easter when we remember Jesus’ death on the cross and celebrate His resurrection. 

It is also a time when we can give something up like chocolate or Facebook; (except on Sundays which are exempt) and focus on helping others.  Lent was inspired by the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).     During that time Jesus fasted, and it was in his hunger that the devil came and tried to tempt Him to turn stones into bread for him to eat.   Resisting temptation, Jesus replied: “It is written people do not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from mouth of God.”  (Matthew 4:4.)  

Jesus is saying that although it is important for us to eat solid food to sustain our bodies, it is far more important to have spiritual food for our souls and this comes from God through His word – the Bible.  So, when we feel tempted to eat that bit of chocolate, why not reflect on Jesus’ words and replace the word “bread” with that thing we have given up to help us overcome our withdrawal symptoms: “People do not live by...[Maltesers (Hmm I love them) or Facebook]...alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” It worked for Jesus, and it can work for us.   

Blessings Pastor Robert and the Headcorn Baptist church family 

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash