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And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Apart from creating, healing and guiding, the word of God is food; it nourishes the soul. In today’s Bible reading, when the devil tempted Jesus by telling Him to turn stones into bread, He responded, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.” This means that just as you can eat bread, you can eat the word of God. His word is food that strengthens your soul and energises you to do His will.
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
The Scripture above shows us that the word of God is pleasant food. When you feast on God’s word, you will be healthy and joyful. Jeremiah affirmed that God’s word was his source of joy and rejoicing. Beloved, if you want to enjoy God’s blessings daily, you must consume His word before you consume anything else. Let His word be your constant companion day and night. says that the righteous meditate on the word of God day and night. God’s word should not be a once-in-a-while snack but a regular meal for your soul. Anyone who meditates on God’s word at all times will “be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” ().
In today’s memory verse, the Lord told Joshua that the book of the law should not depart from his mouth. He was instructed to meditate on it day and night, and only then would he have good success. In , the Psalmist said, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”
Any Christian who does not make God’s word a priority in his or her life will remain spiritually malnourished and exposed to the wiles of the devil.