Christ ate nothing in those days, indicating that the wilderness of testing is not a time of comfort and ease. No chastening for the present seems joyous but grievous. We must arm ourselves with a mind to suffer.

If we cannot accept the thought of suffering and are unwilling to go the Lord's way of the cross, it is impossible for us to reign with Christ. If we are to know the power of His resurrection we also must come to experience the fellowship of His sufferings.

Afterward Christ was hungry. Our struggles in the wilderness leave us famished for the good things of God—and for life itself. It is a period of deprivation. Sometimes our friends cannot share the burden of our situation. We are the only ones who feel the thorns. This lack of sympathy and understanding from others makes the experience even more painful.

During Christ's time of hunger the devil came to Him. The devil began to speak after the forty days of fasting were completed. The devil speaks to us when we are weak. He waits until we have been worn down by painful circumstances and then he moves in with his counsel.

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the son of God, . . . . (Luke 4:3)

Satan did not say, Since you are the Son of God, but "If you are the Son of God." He approaches you and me in the same way. He keeps on raising the question of our position in God, hoping to get us to react in an unholy manner, either in doubt, discouragement or some other unsatisfactory way. Our trial begins with the raising of the question of our very salvation and calling.

But the Word of God remains true for you and me: "As many as received him, to them gave he power [the right] to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12).

. . . command this stone that it be made bread (Luke 4:3).

The "bread" question is the first problem many people face when the call of God comes to them. If I serve God, how will I eat? How will my children eat? How will I pay the mortgage? How will I keep up with the car payments, the medical bills? It is not a question of sin but of survival that causes great concern to many would-be disciples of the Lord Jesus.

How many people have refused to become a Christian because they have placed material security as the number one priority of their life? After we figure out how all the expenses will be met and all our desires accomplished on the earth, we may think about God.

Everyone must eat. Everyone must be clothed. Everyone must provide for his family. God understands this better than we do. God has promised us that He is to be depended on to provide all our needs in the world.

"Consider the lilies"! We need to think about what Jesus has stated concerning God's willingness and ability to take care of us, and then decide for ourselves whether or not God can be trusted (Matthew 6:24-34).

To be continued.