"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"" (Matthew 4:1-4)
God in His wisdom created man and beasts with the ability to know when we are hungry or full, so that we will desire or refuse food in order for our bodies to function properly. We have all been told how important it is to have breakfast in order to function for the day. We are also aware of what foods are good or bad for us. We also know when we have eaten too much. We also understand the consequences of ignoring all of the above.
The question is though, do we understand the consequences of ignoring our spiritual diets? Do we know the signals to heed when to eat and what not to eat?
Spiritual Hunger
Our natural desire to eat causes us to search out food to satisfy our hunger. The problem is, when we eat the wrong food, we continue to desire food. We are not truly satisfied. For example: we are hungry and we see a chocolate cake, we cut a slice and eat it. Afterwards we are either still hungry and search for more food or have another slice, or we feel sick and wish we did not eat it in the first place.
The same is true with our spiritual hunger. We have urges to satisfy our souls in one way or another. The problem is, most people eat the wrong spiritual food in order to satisfy that hunger. Some chase after money, others careers, others recognition or praise, and still others chase after people that teach wrong doctrines just to tickle their ears (2 Timothy 4:3). The problem is, when one feeds on those things, one is either never fully satisfied and searches for more, or one realises that it is not what they really wanted and wish they never had it.
Later in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew records the following words of Jesus in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (5:6). We can concluded from this that there is something that will satisfy our hunger, and that is righteousness. Satisfaction is not found in money, promotion, recognition, or teachings of man, but in the righteousness that comes from God. And how can we know what this righteousness is like if we do not read the Bible. It comes out of the very mouth of God and as Jesus said in His rebuke of the devil, we cannot live without it.
The Signals
As with our physical bodies, our spirit also gives us signals on when we need to feed of God's Word. For example, have you ever felt as though God is not hearing your prayers, that He is so distant from you that you feel like crying out with Jesus on the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mark 15:34)? This is a sign to take seriously that you need to start eating from God's Word.
Other times such as when it feels as though the world is falling down around you, that life is falling apart and that it is not worth carrying on, they are all signals of spiritual hunger. It could also be a conviction you feel when you hear a stern message from the pulpit, in a book, or when a loved one confronts you about an issue in your life. Though you may feel hurt and offended, they are times when you need to get into the Word and see what God has to say about it. To feed off His truths and allow them to satisfy you.
Eat of His Word
I encourage you to spend more time in God's Word. You need the truths it contains to satisfy that craving you have in your spirit that is never quenched. It will encourage you, convict you, equip you, and strengthen you for life. Without God's Word, you will be a sitting duck for the devil, and you will not be able to defend yourself against him should he challenge you like he did Jesus in the wilderness.
Just a Thought!
© 2012
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