Daniel Liew—Portsmouth, UK
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL FOOD There is an old adage: "You are what you eat." The food we consume becomes a part of us as our body breaks it down and extracts the nutrients it needs to fuel and repair itself. If we only eat junk food, our body will lack the essential nourishment needed to develop and be healthy. Conversely, a wide-ranging and balanced diet will make our body healthier, stronger, and less prone to sickness. Therefore, the food we eat directly impacts our physical health. An elder once commented that eating more of what God has made (fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, meat, and so on) and less of what man has made (heavily processed foods with added salt, sugar, and additives) is the foundation of good health. While physical food is important, our spiritual life also needs the right kind of nutrition to grow and thrive. If we are what we eat, then we need to be mindful of what we feed our heart and soul. To be spiritually healthy, we need food that edifies our spiritual life. Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD." (Deut 8:3) While the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they were humbled and allowed to hunger to learn an important lesson. God knew their physical needs and provided manna from heaven as sustenance. However, they had to obey God's instructions regarding when and how much to gather, how long they could keep it, and how to prepare for the Sabbath (Ex 16:4–5, 19–26). They had to have faith and trust in God's commands to survive. When they obeyed, they witnessed how God blessed them with manna daily. Though not sumptuous, they always had something to eat, which was no small miracle in the wilderness. God's grace was sufficient for them (2 Cor 12:9). They could live because of every word that proceeded from the mouth of the Lord. This is how God taught them the importance of obeying His word and commandments; we must also understand this lesson. God is the source of all life. His words are spirit and life (Jn 6:63). His word brought the universe into existence (Heb 11:3; Ps 33:6). When God said, "Let there be light," there was light (Gen 1:3). Every stage of creation was wrought by His word, giving us the life and the world we have today. This same God is the One who speaks to us from heaven through the Scriptures (Heb 12:25), so we need to hear and obey. When we can trust and obey by faith, we will see how God provides us with our daily bread. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16–17) We believe the Holy Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments, is inspired by God and is the only scriptural truth and standard for Christian living. God's word provides the principles we should live by and helps us cultivate the lifestyle and virtues His people should possess. Through God's word, the man of God may be complete and capable of doing "good works." These good works are not just general niceties. We are taught God's righteousness so we can live a life pleasing to God and beneficial to those around us. These good works reflect the One who is good: God Himself (Mk 10:18). Thus, the Bible is the spiritual food we require to support our spiritual growth to glorify God. Psalm 1 gives us further insight: Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. (Ps 1:1–3)
When we are physically hungry, our body is compelled to seek food. But we must endeavor to desire the right kind of food. It is a choice: do I grab unhealthy junk food, or do I get a proper, nutritious meal? Psalm 1 presents us with a similar choice. We could choose to feed ourselves the thinking and concepts of the ungodly, the sinners, and the scornful (proud), which would lead us to exhibit the corresponding behavior. The advent of the internet and technological advances mean that we live in an age with myriad information and media at our fingertips through multiple devices. These can be useful tools for work and education, among other things. However, such tools also allow us to encounter many incorrect and unbiblical thoughts, behaviors, and trends that can negatively influence us. Hence, we observe the decline of morality and the increase of social problems that plague our society—abuse, violence and vengeance, sexual immorality, broken families, and so on. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to keep our heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Our thoughts, speech, and behavior towards others and in different situations come from the heart. If we constantly feed ourselves with the worldly doctrines of men, we run the risk of being spiritually unhealthy. We become desensitized to sin as certain concepts and behaviors become more socially acceptable or normalized, and we end up being unable to discern what is pleasing and correct before God. As God's people, we realize this is not a healthy choice. Since we desire to be blessed, we ought to delight in and meditate on the law of the Lord day and night. Then we shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. We will constantly be full of spiritual vitality—nourished and able to bring forth fruit in its season and prosperous in whatever we do. The question is, how does the word of God nourish and promote the spiritual growth and prosperity we seek? THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR MEALS AND DIGESTION To find "delight" is to find pleasure or enjoyment in something. The term "law" can be understood as the Torah, in part or the whole, but it can also be an all-encompassing term for God's commandments, instructions, and teachings. Consuming more knowledge of God's word brings us joy because we learn more about His heart for His people, what He has done and will do for His people, and His expectations of and hopes for His people. Such knowledge is good because it allows us to discern between right and wrong, what is pleasing and not pleasing, in God's sight. Psalm 1:3 teaches us to meditate on the word day and night. This encouragement gives us a couple of points to reflect on: - Make Sure You Eat
We need to provide ourselves with daily opportunities to receive God's word. [A]s newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. (1 Pet 2:2) Peter encourages us to be like newborn babes, desiring the pure milk of God's word. Babies get hungry quickly and need to be fed regularly. We must cultivate this hunger and desire for God's word. Just as regular meals are beneficial physically, receiving God's word regularly is essential for our continued spiritual growth. First and foremost, we should arrange our time and affairs to allow us to observe the Sabbath day and attend church services and activities. God loves us so much that He integrated a weekly opportunity into our lives to gather unencumbered, to listen to and reflect on His word. Secondly, we should spend a little time with God's word daily. Life can be busy at times, so we must make a conscious effort to set aside time until it becomes second nature to us. We can ringfence a slot in our schedule to read the Bible or church publications, for example, over breakfast, during lunch break, or before bed. We can use our daily commute or when we do chores to listen to a sermon. Technology has made it easier for us to access these opportunities. Thirdly, we can earmark a time to do more in-depth study, alone or with others. This requires more time and effort but is very beneficial. - Make Sure You Digest
Digestion is how our body obtains nutrients from food. Spiritually, it is equivalent to understanding and then applying the word. Meditating—or reflecting—on God's word is the process by which we digest it to nourish and maintain our spiritual life and grow. In Psalm 1, the Psalmist mentions meditation in the sense of talking to oneself while pondering. Ordinarily, someone talking to himself may be a cause for concern. However, in this case, it is a good thing to do, as we are speaking the word of God to ourselves. Such meditation can benefit us in a few ways. When we speak God's word to ourselves: - We try to understand God's words to be educated in righteousness.
- We reflect on how we can apply God's word in our life.
- We compare our current behavior with the behavior God desires and consider how to bridge the gap between the two.
Those who meditate are sometimes called "ruminants," as the meditative process is akin to the ruminative digestion process of animals such as cows and sheep. Since grass is difficult to digest, ruminants will regurgitate the partially digested grass and "chew the cud" before re-swallowing it. Various bacteria and digestive juices further break down the processed mixture so it can be fully digested. This digestive process continues throughout the day and employs four stomach chambers to extract the nutrients required. When it comes to the word of God, we may not immediately understand what we receive. It can take time, prayer, reflection, reading other passages, and hearing others' sharing before we understand. We may have a basic understanding now and obtain a more in-depth understanding in the future. That is the beauty of God's word—the layers of understanding and edification we gain over time. Some foods are easier to digest, while some take longer, so the benefit from the food will come sooner or later. Similarly, when we read the Bible, sometimes we connect with what we read quickly and can see the application. Other times, we may not fully understand the meaning and relevance to us or be able to apply the teaching immediately. We do not need to worry or become frustrated because we think we are not getting anything from reading the Bible. Psalm 1 tells us that regularly spending time with God's word is like being a tree planted by the rivers of water. We have constant access to the water and nutrients critical to sustaining us, allowing us to bear fruit in season. One possible meaning is that God's word will lead to natural growth as we continue to delight in and meditate on it. Another possibility is that, in time, the meaning or teaching will become apparent, and as we put it into practice, we will grow and bear the fruit God desires. We must appreciate that learning and applying God's word is a lifelong process that we must couple with prayer; this is spiritual cultivation. It is the process by which we are refined and prepared for the day when Jesus comes again. Not that we are earning our salvation, but we are more certain of it because we are living according to our faith. GROWTH THROUGH APPLICATION Evidently, the word of God should be intertwined with our everyday life. Constant consideration of God's word guides us to see from God's perspective so we can make choices pleasing to Him. Knowledge of God's word is a blessing, but greater blessings and joy are found in application. James exhorts us to be doers of the word and not hearers only (Jas 1:22). It is easy to "talk the talk" when it comes to how we should think, speak, and act as a godly person. However, if we do not "walk the walk" by applying the teachings we know, then our theoretical knowledge does not manifest its true value—allowing us to be blessed in what we do (Jas 1:25). For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (Jas 1:23–24) James likens hearing the word to looking into a mirror. Mirrors show us our true likeness—every gray hair, spot, and wrinkle is reflected. We cannot deny what we see because it is the reality of who we are. Receiving God's word shows us our true self. If we are obedient to God's word, we can be thankful for what we see because this is the image a child of God should have. We are encouraged to continue doing these good things and more. However, we often feel ashamed of what God shows us. We see our true selves: we lack love and patience for others; we struggle to forgive; we are proud; we are lazy; we are lacking in our role as a husband, wife, parent, or child; we have bad habits that affect our lifestyle. God has spoken, and we have heard. Our conscience is pricked with guilt. We resolve to do better and promise God we will change and grow. As genuine as these thoughts are at the time, sometimes we suffer the "walk away effect." After looking in the mirror, we turn and go away, immediately forgetting what kind of person we were shown to be. We identified what aspects of ourselves needed to change or improve. However, the prior remorse and resolve gradually disappear as we leave the chapel, the fellowship ends, or we put the Bible or church publication down. We forget what we saw and may even replace it with an idealized or false self-image: I am a kind, gentle, and loving person; I am a great spouse; I know the teachings of the Bible, so I must be fine. We deceive ourselves into thinking we are spiritually good because we know the "right answer" when it comes to faith. However, without "walking the walk," we are not tackling the issues and changing for the better. Instead, we become complacent, lax, and self-indulgent in our life of faith. The worst-case scenario would be that we reject what God shows us, essentially calling God a liar (1 Jn 1:10). In His love, God lifts the mirror for us to see ourselves. He presents us with the opportunity to uncover what we need to work on and the chance to change. When these moments come, we need to respond like those on the Day of Pentecost who were cut to the heart by Peter's words, asking what they should do to remedy the situation (Acts 2:37). When Peter gave them the answer, those who gladly received his word affirmed their belief through action, and three thousand were baptized that day. Likewise, when God sends someone to us who speaks the truth in love (Eph 4:15), we need to humbly reflect and come before God in prayer, repenting of our errors and asking for help to address those issues. MEDITATE, DEDICATE, GROW Paul encouraged Timothy to be an example to the believers in word, conduct, love, faith, and purity (1 Tim 4:12). These are all manifestations of God's word and teachings in his life. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. (1 Tim 4:15) He instructs Timothy to meditate on these things and to immerse himself in doing them. The resulting transformation, accomplished through obedience to God's word, will be seen by all. This way, he can save himself and those who hear his encouragement (1 Tim 4:16). If we desire to progress in our faith, we must take the words of Paul as personal encouragement. We need to organize and make time to receive and meditate on the word of God. We need to dedicate ourselves to practicing what we have learned. When we commit ourselves to these two actions, we and others will naturally see the growth the Lord intended. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. (Rom 13:11) If we have not started already, it is time to take control of our spiritual diet and feast on the spiritual food that God has provided us. Let us be constantly nourished and strengthened in our spiritual life to grow into healthier and more mature believers. | 
