THE CENTRALITY OF THE WORD OF GOD The concept of spiritual nourishment is set within the context of competition and adversity. In this world, the "man of God" (2 Tim. 3:17) lives in separation from his homeland. His "citizenship" is in heaven (Phil. 3:10 ASV), and his affections and appetites are anchored in a "better country" (Col 3:1-2; Heb. 11:13-16). While "in the body," those who "are sanctified" (Acts 20:32) are "absent from the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:6-9) – the ultimate source of life. Tomorrow:
"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for THOU HAST MAGNIFIED THY WORD ABOVE ALL THY NAME." (Psa 138:2) ". . . for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!" (Amplified Bible)
Devotion 28 of 30
It is for this reason that believers are called "strangers and pilgrims" in the world (1 Pet 2:11). Like their father Abraham they "have here no continuing city" (Heb 13:14). They are "sojourners" (Heb 11:9), passing through the defiled temporal realm in route to a "better country" (Heb 11:16), and a "city that hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God" (Heb 11:10). Presently, they possess a heavenly "treasure" in an "earthen vessel" (2 Cor 4:7). That condition causes those who live by faith to "groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven" (2 Cor 5:2,4).
Our present tenure in this world is one in which our redeemed spirits are housed within an unredeemed body. That condition produces such conflict that faith causes us to cry out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Rom 7:24).
The world, with all of its essential elements, competes with the realm of the unseen. The result is the depletion of spiritual resources. Inner strength (Eph. 3:16) is required to live in a cursed realm! That strength must be "renewed" if spiritual life is to be maintained (Eph. 4:23). That unique benefit of faith was proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength . . ." (Isa. 40:31). With great anticipation we long for the time when our blessed Lord shall come in glory and "change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Phil 3:21).
In an arena of spiritual conflict, our minds become like sieves. Without regular input, the awareness of spiritual reality gradually dissipates, the heart becomes hard, and enmity with God develops. This is the jeopardy associated with the faith-life: if the faith is not maintained, the life it sustains will fail. While the Savior died "once for all" (Heb. 10:10), faith is not a once-for-all transaction. Faith is, in fact, only as strong as the effort expended by men to maintain it.
Here is where the Word of God comes into sharp focus. It has spiritually nourishing capabilities. As it is written, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, WHICH IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32). Jesus referred to this quality of the Word when He repelled one of Satan's temptations: "It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Luke 4:4; Matt 4:4; Deut 8:3). Seeing this, and while living in a spiritually inferior day, Job said, "I have esteemed the words of Thy mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12). David said they were "sweeter than the honeycomb" (Psa 19:10). He testified of the word, "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips" (Psa 63:5). And again the Psalmist said, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psa 119:103). Paul reminded Timothy that he should be a "good minister of Jesus Christ, NOURISHED UP in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained" (1 Tim 4:6).
It seems to me that one of the great deficiencies of the modern church is its minimization of the Word of God. Who is able to calculate the staggering difficulties this has caused for the people of God?
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the refreshing and nourishing quality of Your good Word. Raise up godly men who will declare that Word with strength and consistency.