FEEDING ON THE WORD OF GOD. Part 1

Author: Rev Esther Holmes
December 08, 2019

Jeremiah 15:16  Your words were found, a nd I ate them, and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.  This verse teaches us three things.  First, it teaches that the finding of God's Word comes only to those who diligently seek it.   Second, the eating means personally taking hold of the Word for our own sustenance, taking up the words of God into our beings.  Matt. 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  We also learn about the rejoicing;  The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matt. 13:44

Finding and Eating:  Eating is here the central thought.  It is preceded by the searching and finding.  It is accompanied and followed by the rejoicing.  It is the only aim and use of the one; it is the only cause and life of the other.  In the secrecy of the inner chamber, much depends on this- "I ate them!"  To realize the difference between this and the finding of God's words, compare the  corn a man may have stored in his barn with the bread he has on his table.  All the diligent labor he has put into sowing and harvesting his grain can't profit him unless he eats a daily portion of the bread his body requires.  Do you see the application of this to your Scripture study in the morning. You need to find God's words and master them by careful thought, so as to have them stored in your mind and memory for your own use and that of others.  In this work there may often be great joy, the joy of harvest or of victory, the joy of treasure secured or difficulties overcome.  Yet we must remember that this finding and possessing the words of God is the  actual eating of them, which alone brings divine life and strength to the soul.  The fact that a farmer possesses good, wholesome corn will not nourish him.  similarly, the fact of being deeply interested in the knowledge of God's Word will not of itself nourish your soul.  Your words were found, that happened first.  and I ate them and that brought the joy and rejoicing.  Part 2 coming soon will be titled "Eating every Day."

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