Devotion / The sweetness of God's Word

What foods do you like?

 What foods get your mouth watering? How about a banana split covered with hot chocolate, butterscotch, whipped cream, and a red cherry to top it off? Or, how about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a pizza with extra cheese, or a juicy slice of watermelon?

 Some people enjoy foods that others don’t. That’s especially true when we consider foods eaten in other countries. Raw fish, beetles, and pig’s ears might not sound too appetizing to some, but others enjoy them.

 Life would be quite boring if God had not given us a variety of food. God is good to us and he wants to make our lives happy with all sorts of delicious sweets, vegetables, and meats.

 Feeding on God’s Word

 God provides us with not only food for our stomachs but also food for our souls. This food is found between the covers of our Bible. Listen to some of the things God says about this unusual food. In Job 23:12 we read: I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Jeremiah 15:16 says: When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight. And Jesus said in John 6:51: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. Peter even says we should be like babies, wanting to drink God’s spiritual milk. God’s Word is food for our souls. When we hear, read, and study the Bible, it is as if we are filling ourselves with a special food; a food that will keep us filled and always provide proper nutrition for our souls.

 There is one important thing about food. We have to keep eating it. We have to always come back for more. Our bodies will starve if we stop eating and drinking. We know we must keep our bodies fed to stay alive. It is no different with our souls feeding on God’s Word. To keep our souls healthy we must also have a steady diet of God’s Word. Without regular nourishment, our souls will starve. Every day we can sit down at the table of God’s Word and eat and drink our fill. There we will taste the richness of God’s grace. There we will feast on the love of Jesus manifest at Calvary. There we will find the perfect diet for a healthy soul. God’s children can rightly say along with the psalm writer:“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth (Psalm 119:103).

 by Reynold R. Kremer