He was giving to every man, everywhere in the world, under stress of every temptation; with every rope tugging at its fastenings, and threatening every moment to slip its hold, and the man be lost in the storm, _to every man_ the right, the enormous staying power to say, "_Jesus_--a _man _--such a one as I--was _here_, and as a _man_ resisted--and _won_. He is at my side. I'll lean on Him and _resist_ too,--and _win_ too--in the strength of His winning." Jesus says here, "My life, my food, the supplying of my needs is in the hands of my Father. When _He_ gives the word, I'll do: not before. I'll starve if He wishes it, but I'll not mistrust Him; nor do anything save as He leads and suggests. I'll not act at _your_ suggestion, nor anybody's else but His. Starving doesn't begin to bother me like failing to trust would do. But I haven't the faintest idea of starving with such a Father." "Not by bread alone, but by every word ... of God." Not by a loaf, but by a word. When a man is where God would have him, he can afford to wait patiently till God gives the word. A man is never unsteadier on his feet than when he has gone where he was not led. "_I go at my Father's word." "I wait_ for my Father's word." Jesus' study of the parchment rolls in Nazareth was standing Him in good stead now. Through many a prayerful hour over that Word had come the trained ear, the waiting spirit, the doing of things only at the Father's initiative. He could make bread, but He wouldn't, unless the Father gave the word. It was not simply that He would _not_ act at the tempter's suggestion, but He would not act at all except at the Father's word. And to this Jesus remained true, whether the request for evidence came from the tempter direct, or from sneering Pharisee at the temple's cleansing, or from unbelieving brothers. Life comes not through what a man can make, but through the Father's controlling presence: not through our effort, but through the Father's power transmitted through the pipe line of our ready obedience. "Just to let thy Father do As He will. Just to know that He is true, And be still. Just to follow hour by hour As He leadeth. Just to draw the moment's power As it needeth. Just to trust Him. This is all. Then the day will surely be Peaceful, whatsoe'er befall, Bright and blesséd, calm and free."[8] Jesus held every activity, every power subject to the Father's bidding. Not only obedient, but nothing else. Waiting the Father's send-off at every turn: this is the message from Jesus that first tug, and first victory. Jesus had held true in the realm of the body, in His relationship to Himself. <u>Love Never Tests.</u>