A few months ago, my little grandson wasn’t growing. Like any good mama, my daughter was concerned. Her baby had fallen nearly all the way off the lower end of the growth chart, and she couldn’t get him to eat well.
All moms want their children to grow. That’s why we stress over our toddlers’ finicky food choices and lament our teenagers’ preferences for junk food. When it comes to growing physically, we know nothing can replace a good appetite for wholesome food.
The same is true about our spiritual growth.
Our appetites matter.
Before God sent the prophet Ezekiel to Israel, He fed him. God said, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then Ezekiel said, “I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey” (Ezekiel 3:3).
The words of God are food for us. They feed our starving souls.
When we feast on the Scriptures, they refresh us, give us energy, and mature us. In fact, if the Scriptures aren’t doing those things for us, we’re probably nibbling instead of eating.
God’s words are more than comforting phrases on a coffee mug or helpful guidelines to better living. They are “spirit and life” (John 6:63).
It’s not enough to hear, speak, understand, remember, admire, or even believe them. Instead, they must be eaten.
Ingested.
In other words, they must become a part of us.
Ezekiel welcomed God’s words like a hungry man, and they brought him life and joy. If you’re feeling spiritually anemic, open your Bible and feast on the words of God. They’ll make you joyful, spiritually strong, and more in love with Jesus, who is “the bread of life” (John 6:48).
