Feasting on the Word

The Word of God is a precious gift to believers. It is a love letter from the Father to His children; His story of redemption for a people enslaved to sin; it is our hope in dark times; and our compass to keep us on His path.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NASB).

Reading the Word is vital to thriving—it is our lifeline. Jesus relied on the Word of God when tempted in the desert. He is our ultimate pattern for living an overcoming life. When we hold the Word in our hands we hold a treasure.

Psalm 119 is poetic praise of God and His Word. One need only to read through the psalm one time to feel the psalmist’s desire to know God and to know Him through His Word. He knew if he had God’s Word hidden in his heart, he would thrive; he would live. It did not matter what came his way, he would keep God’s Word with all his heart (see Psalms 119: 34).

We live in a time when many things are vying for our attention. The culture demands that each can do what is right in his/her own eyes, which can be contrary to God’s Word. Thus, the Bible is viewed as intolerant and irrelevant, making it not easy to thrive in such a culture. But eating God’s Word—devouring it—makes it possible to bloom where you are. The Old Testament prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah, and John the Revelator also lived in trying times, pressured to live by a different standard than the Lord of Glory’s. All three were instructed to eat the scroll containing God’s Word.

“You, who know, O Lord, remember me, take notice of me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of your patience, take me away; know that for your sake I endure reproach. Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by your name, O Lord God of Hosts” (Jeremiah 15:15-16 NASB).

Jeremiah relied on God’s precious, Holy Writ to endure hard times and to thrive in the midst of tough situations and an ungodly culture. Eating God’s Word brought him joy. He ate God’s Word and relayed it to the people so that they could thrive too, in the midst of Babylonian exile. If the people would heed God’s Word, He promised to prosper them.

John the Revelator ate the scroll of God’s Words too. The words tasted like honey in his mouth, but his stomach grew bitter (see Revelation 10). When we have God’s Word in us it is not just for us. We need to encourage and exhort each other with God’s Word, so that others may live an abundant life as well.

The only way we are going to survive the hard times, the trials and pitfalls of life, is to eat God’s Word and have it inside of us. Jesus directed John to eat the book so that His Word would be heard, and give hearers vibrant, abundant life. Jesus desires for His Word to resound through the earth.

Do you want abundant life? Eat this book. Do you want joy and peace? Eat this book. Live, breathe, eat, and sleep God’s Word. It is your oxygen. Eat this book and it will cause flesh to grow on your dry bones. You will bloom and thrive through any situation. You will be filled to overflowing. You will have life and have it more abundantly. Yes, eat this book.

Where has Your SHINE Been?

To Kamea’e Falls on the Island of Hawaii!