FEEDING YOUR SOUL

Jackie Gleason once said, "The second day of a diet is always easier than the first. By the second day you're off it." Most of us can relate in some way or another. Just a few years ago my favorite meal was a Big Mac, large fries and a Coke ... but not today. The longer I live, the more I’ve begun to appreciate being able to sit down and enjoy a good nutritious meal. Although since I have three children, our family makes frequent stops to fast food restaurants for a quick bite to eat. Afterwards, if I’ve left enough room, it’s hard to resist a delicious dessert filled with calories and too many fat grams to even think about. Does any of this sound familiar to you? To be honest, most of us haven’t missed too many meals lately, have we?

What have you been feeding your soul lately? I’m wondering how many of us find delight and satisfaction from feasting on the Word of God? Psalm 119:103 states, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" When was the last time that you sat down and really devoured God’s Word? I’m not talking about a quick reading or skimming quickly over a chapter, but rather taking the time to taste and digest His Word.

If you go without physical food and nutrition for a long period of time, you’ll become weak and your body will suffer because of it. It’s also true that if you try to live from day to day without digesting God’s Word, your spiritual heath will deteriorate and eventually you’ll die spiritually. In Matthew 4, when Jesus was tempted by Satan, He quoted part of Duet. 8:3 "... man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." My encouragement to you is to set aside time every day not simply to open the Bible but to taste and devour the Words of Life. When this becomes a part of your daily routine, you’ll find your relationship with the Father will grow deeper as you grow stronger in your spiritual life.

Don’t forget that God’s family meets together on Sundays and Wednesdays to worship Him and at the same time we share in a spiritual feast together. Take part in Bible Class this week, you’ll be glad you did.

Ted Edwards

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Bulletin Article, 4 October 1998


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