Eat healthy! We hear this all the time. Frankly, it’s true and necessary to live a healthy life. However – to eat God’s Word – what does that mean?
Time to dig into another Scripture Dissection – and eat God’s Word. This’ll be interesting.
Let’s Tear Into – Eat His Word
We always explore four categories in Scripture dissection:
- What Does It Say?
- What Does It Mean?
- Make It Personal.
- Make A Commitment.
1. What Does It Say?
Three Scriptures today funnel into the idea of eating God’s Word.
First Scripture – Feed On Me
Jn. 6:57 says, “The one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.”
Second Scripture – I Am Bread
Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life.” (Jn. 6:48)
Jesus then explains His statement about being the Bread of Life a few verses later. “I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn. 6:51)
Third Scripture – Eat This Scroll
“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.’ . . . So, I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.” (Ez. 3:1-3) Ezekiel tells how God invited him to eat His Word.
Another translation says, “ ‘Son of man, I am giving you this scroll. Swallow it! Let that scroll fill your body.’ . . . So, I ate the scroll. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth.”
And another translation says, “ ‘Son of man, eat this book that I am giving you. Make a full meal of it!’ . . . So, I ate it. It tasted so good—just like honey.”
That’s what those verses say.
2. What Does It Mean?
What you eat is what you become. It’s not only the calories. It’s also the quality of food you ingest that’s transforms into cells of your body. Actually, it’s fuel!
Similarly, God’s Word is fuel. It contains good calories for your inner person. In fact, it’s healthy nourishment for your soul, heart, and mind. What you eat is what you become.
So, let’s explore this idea – “Eat His Word” – and see what practical advice God has.
Jn. 6:57
“The one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.”
Let’s compare this to athletes. The coach puts a meal, heavy in protein and healthy carbs, in front of the athlete and says, “Here, eat this. It’ll give you what you need in the contest coming up.”
Jesus knows He is the best nutrition your soul needs. In fact, your body, heart, and mind, too. Subsequently, you need to spend serious time with Him each day to take more of Him into your soul – just like you eat food each day. Get to know Him. Read Scripture – the “Written Word” because it’s Jesus – the “Living Word” on paper.
When you take in Christ, you get healthy – strong – confident. Essentially, you get ready for “life contests” coming up. Plus, you have companionship with the best Coach ever. Additionally, you learn increasingly how to live an Alive and Active Life.
Jn. 6:48
“I am the Bread of Life.”
Actually, at this point, I disagree with a trend – don’t eat much bread. Ever heard that one? Well-made bread with wholegrain ingredients is essential to good health.
- Carbohydrates.
- B Vitamins.
- Fiber.
- Minerals.
- Proteins.
In fact, it’s been a staple all over the world, sustaining generations. Of course, add lots of fruits and vegetables. Plus, additional protein foods. Abundant water. Always – a cup of coffee or tea! 😊And you have a healthy diet.
“Bread of Life” is another name for Jesus. Truly, He is essential to good spiritual health. In fact, He has sustained generations of Jesus followers. The more you take Jesus in and practice His character, the healthier you get. He is a staple for your life.
Ez. 3:1-3
“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.’ . . . So, I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.”
At this point, I want to include another Scripture. “God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness.” (2 Pet.1:3)
Interestingly, “everything you need” includes food for your body. Plus, nourishment for your soul. Essentially, power to live, move, and function. This is how you maintain life and thrive. Additionally, it’s how you become godly – more like Jesus.
We’ve already established Jesus is the “Bread of Life.” Simultaneously, He is “The (Living) Word.” Subsequently, to “eat God’s Word” sounds pretty reasonable.
Actually, God’s Word through Jesus Christ gives you –
- Everything you need.
- All the rich spiritual nutrition.
- Direction and guidance.
- Promises God intends to keep.
- Stories to inspire and even warn you.
- Principles that all creation is established on.
All these components help you live an Alive and Active Life!
That’s what those verses mean.
3. Make It Personal
How do you make it personal – to feed on the Bread of Life and eat His Word till it fills you up?
Interestingly, this is an invitation to spend daily time in God’s Word. Perhaps you are a morning person. Before you jump into your day, get up early enough to spend adequate time in Scripture and prayer. Come close to Jesus to “eat God’s Word.” I personally think this is most helpful to approach your day. It’s “sets you up” for whatever is ahead.
Contrastingly, maybe you prefer evening to digest what you learn as you “sleep on it.”
Regardless, you need to carve time into your day to come close to God and know Him to love Him more deeply. That’s feeding on the Bread of Life and filling up with Him.
I interpret this idea something like this – “My child, I’m giving you My Word. Essentially, I’m giving you Me. It’s a gift I hope you’ll receive – plus, fill your entire life with. Eat My Word and – moment by moment – let it permeate into every detail of your life. Your issues, responsibilities, relationships, sorrows, disappointments. Let it permeate till it affects your thoughts, words, attitudes, moods, and actions. It tastes so good – like honey. Try Me and see that I speak the truth. Eat My Word. Feed on Me.”
Practice
Incidentally, to make this personal means getting serious enough to practice certain things as life happens. Essentially, to sculpt everything in your life to match what Jesus would do.
- We already established to spend time with God each day. A “quiet time” with only Him. Reading. Journaling. Considering. Praying. Practice these things to grow healthy and strong.
- Additionally, take a few action points from that quiet time into each day. Wrap those points into your perspective and approach to the day. Then practice these points in every situation.
- Of course, turn your thoughts to Jesus often during the day. Smile inside (and outside) as you share life with Him. As with all close friends, you don’t even need words. Just “be” together and enjoy your relationship. Practice the strategies that make a friendship healthy.
- Practice God’s principles instead of your own. Let Him “carve out” anything that doesn’t line up with His ways. Then, practice everything He shows you. I love what the psalmist says to God – “Point out anything You find in me that makes You sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Ps. 139:24)
Practice makes perfect. This is how you make these Scriptures personal.
The Alternative
Before we go to the fourth section, I want to add some thoughts about the alternative.
Sadly, the alternative to all we’ve explored in this content is to follow your own way. Scripture says this leads to destruction. You know, it’s tragic how many times a person ends up following their own way! Haven’t you ever thought one or two of these following things?
- You want to feel you are in charge.
- It only seems mature to run your own life.
- As an adult, you should be acting like a person of power.
- Afterall, God gave you preferences for a reason.
Actually, if you look carefully, you’ll see a thread of truth in each of those thoughts. But they are misaligned. If an archer thought in that manner, they’d miss the target – every time.
Following your own way is not God’s way.
4. Make A Commitment – Application Thoughts And Questions
Are you working to be healthy in your body? Nutrition, exercise, positive thoughts, etc.?- Equally, are you working to be healthy in your soul, mind, and heart? Do you “eat God’s Word?”
- Do you spend time alone with God each day? If not, what will you change to make this happen?
- Have you taken action points from your quiet time into your day and applied them to situations?
- Do you turn your thoughts to Jesus often through your day – just to enjoy Him?
- Have you found His Word is sweeter than honey?
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