Live on God's Word

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” ~Matthew 4:4

We have often heard or read the words of Jesus and agreed with them in our minds. Yes, it is necessary that we should live by the Word of God. We sing songs on God's Word and sometimes even memorize it. We know that we should be spending time with God every day.

But...do we actually live by God's Word?  Is is our very life's breath?  Is our every waking moment spent in its pursuit.

Let's really get practical here.  We're not talking about what place God's Word should take in our life.  We're talking about what place it does take in our life right now.  You ate three times yesterday, right? (Well, Thanksgiving day may have been an exception, but on a regular basis, you eat three meals.)  About how long does an average meal take to consume?  About thirty minutes, right?  That's an hour and a half of eating, plus any snack time.

Let me ask you now, how much time do you spend each day feeding on the words of Christ?

Was it a foundational part of your day, or did you spend just a few minutes in it?  Was your every spare moment consumed in its pursuit, or did you waste away the precious moments of your day feeding on your own thoughts, a phone, or a computer?

Not having enough time isn't a good excuse.  You found time to eat, didn't you?  Three meals!  We just don't make time to read God's Word.

We must understand something.  God's Word is more valuable than our everyday food.  Repeat that a few times.  Just as vegetables and meat sustain our earthly body, God's Word sustains our soul and spirit--our spiritual bodies.  We can't except to live a healthy, satisfied life as a child of God if we are not spending time in God's Word!

"as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby," ~1 Peter 2:2

We must desire God's Word and actually spend time in it if we wish to be grown by it. Just before Moses death, some of his final words to Israel were these:

“Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.” ~Deuteronomy 32:46-47

What would it look like if you and I made God and His Word the center of our life?  Not just talking about making it of great importance, but actually doing it.  I've had enough talk.  Let's move into action here, my friends.  

Let us resolve to really and truly spend time in God's Word.

Will you join me in real action?  This isn't light and fluffy, and it won't be easy. But we didn't sign up for easy, we want life-changing.  And that's what we'll get.  May we too (though practice and not just theory), not with our heads but with our hearts, echo with complete fervency the words of Job:

"I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;I have treasured the words of His mouthMore than my necessary food." ~Job 23:12