“And after He had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, He [was] hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” – Matthew 4:2-3

Writers love conjunctions – words that help to link clauses or ideas and to express the relationships between them.

The word ‘if’ is a conjunction that is used to introduce or show conditionality or truth.

Our meditation today shows that the devil started the temptation of our Lord Jesus with the word ‘if.’

He still does today, you know!

Barely 40 days earlier, a voice had come from heaven and clearly declared: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Then in a vulnerable state when He is hungry, thirsty and weak, Jesus encounters the devil who asks Him to turn stones into food as proof that the affirmation from heaven was true!

“If indeed You are the Son of God as the voice from heaven claimed at Your baptism in the Jordan River, then do something right now to prove to me that it was the truth!” the devil suggested, with a wry smile.

I really like Jesus’ response: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Of course, the phrase “every word that comes from the mouth of God” was in reference to what the voice from heaven had stated at His baptism.

If God has spoken, it’s enough; don’t entertain any other ‘ifs’ whatever the situation!

In other words, what Jesus is saying is that what God said about Him was much more important than food – it’s enough to sustain Him through whatever situation.

This shows us that the tempter is not really interested in you as a person; what he targets is the word of prophecy you carry in your spirit – what God said about you!

So, when the devil tempts you with stealing money, lusts or telling lies, he’s targeting the word that says you’re rich, holy and the righteousness of God.

He’s targeting to steal your self-worth as a child of God!

Indeed, most of the stress we go through in life is due to the constant pressure to prove our worth to others, which basically stems from our deep-seated insecurities.

Individuals with low self-esteem, especially those who struggle with internal doubts and insecurities, are always tempted to seek external validation in order to feel worthy.

They believe that their value is contingent on proving how powerful, rich or beautiful they are, compared to others.

Eventually, it becomes a never-ending cycle as they move from one relationship to another or from one job to another.

What Jesus is showing us is that true self-worth comes from within, it is inherent; it’s intrinsic.

You don’t have to prove your worth, value or true identity in Christ to anyone.

By putting your focus on what the Word of God says about you, you break free from the pressure to prove your worth to people.

Get behind me devil, for I am what God says I am, so your opinion of me is largely both wrong and irrelevant.

True fulfillment comes from valuing yourself regardless of external opinions!

Never joke or play around with a person who has heard from God; he/she doesn’t feel any pressure to prove him/herself!  God is his defence and buckler.

“If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

If God has spoken, it’s enough; don’t entertain any other ‘ifs,’ whatever the situation!

So, as Donnie McClurkin sang; “Whose Report Will You Believe?”