FEED ON THE WORD

“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of GOD’” – Matthew 4:4

The Word of God is Food for the human spirit. To meditate on the Word is to FEED on the WORD: “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of GOD’” (Mt. 4:4). If it is important to eat every day, how much more feeding on God’s Word? You need His Word even more than your daily meals. He who made you knows best what you need daily. However, like any other kind of feeding, you can choose to feed on crumbs, on paltry measures of food, or feed to the FULL. You can go for a nourishing balanced menu or settle for unwholesome snacks. The Lord Jesus lived by EVERY WORD – full, balanced spiritual diet, and He commends the same to us. No wonder He defeated the devil hands down and triumphed over every temptation!

Think back to the beginning when God breathed into man the breath of life and he became a living being (Gen.2:7). Relate this to 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2Tim.3:16). All Scripture is “God breathed”! Therefore, when we read the Bible, meditate in or listen to the Word preached, we are imbibing the very breath of God which is life-giving. The Lord says, “The WORDS that I speak to you are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE” (Jh.6:63b). God’s Words are “LIFE to those who find them, and health to all their flesh” (Pro.4:22). If you are under the weather or feeling symptoms of sickness in your body, lay hold on God’s medicine – simply feed more on His Word, and you will find life and health flowing through your veins afresh.

You become what you eat! One writer wrote, “Some Christians feed their bodies three hot meals a day and feed their spirits two cold snacks a week and wonder why they’re weak in faith.” Authentic faith is built on the Word. Meditate on the Word consistently, not just when it seems convenient. Pay the price of commitment in the place of personal devotion. Dig deep into the Word and feed on it in your quiet times. Then, the Word will become a part of you just as natural food becomes a part of your physical body when you eat. You must feed upon the Word until acting on the Word is all you want to do. The Bible is not a mere literary text, although its literary value is without comparison. While it consists of some deeply poetic lines, we don’t read it simply for its poetic style. It’s neither a work of fiction nor just a history book. It was not written to stimulate the mind, but to feed and nourish the spirit. That’s why unsaved folks find it hard to appreciate the true value of the Word.

In a sense, Church is like a spiritual restaurant where human spirits – living souls – are fed with spiritual food. Recall the times you walked into church initially feeling fatigued or depressed, but left at the end of the service feeling excited, energized and refreshed. Guess what happened! God’s Word must have breathed life into your body! The more you spend time in His Word, the healthier, stronger and even more youthful you’re likely to become.

Beloved, you cannot live when you stop breathing. In the same way, you cannot live without the Word because it is the very breath of God which gives life and health! Whatever you do, remember to get your daily feeding of God’s Word. That’s the essence of the daily Capstone Capsules. Read your Bible in the comfort of your closet or in the office during lunch break. Listen to audios of Christian sermons and messages while driving to work or doing household chores. You may prefer the visuals, and watch video clips of the Word being preached or taught. Be comfortable with whichever form you prefer; just get the Word of God into you daily!