Lesson for the Lord’s Day
But He answered and said, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
During a recent visit to an Indigo bookstore, I was amazed at the extent of the cookbook section. Not only was there a large section with books describing every imaginable approach for the preparation and cooking of all types of food and every style and ethnic flavour of food, but there was also a large section where many of these books were on sale for very special prices. As I perused some of the titles and flipped open pages to some enticingly attractive pictures of meats, breads, desserts, and ingredients, the thought struck me how preoccupied our society is with what we eat. It is no wonder that Paul, when speaking of sinners, could say of them ‘whose god is their belly'(Philippians 3:19). For some people, their only reason for existence, it seems, is to consume as much food and as extensive a range of food as possible. Yes, we must eat in order to live, but an all-absorbing passion about food is not healthy for body or soul. And that is particularly true for Christians.
In his rebuke to the devil, Jesus reminds him that there is something far more fulfilling and valuable for us to consume: the Word of God! Food is necessary for our bodies, but it satisfies nothing more than the hunger of our bodies. The Word of God feeds our souls and builds up our spirits, that which will endure forever. There are some foods that are not good for us, or are good for some of us but not for others. There are some foods on which we can overindulge to our detriment. But when we turn to the Word of God, Jesus says every Word is good and precious and we can never get too much of it. Just as a hearty appetite for meat and vegetables at the dinner table is a sign of a healthy body, so too is a hearty appetite for the Word of God a sign of a healthy soul.
Do you have a favourite cookbook? Is there a particular type of food that you prefer over other types? That may be good for the body. But for the soul, there is only one sure source of good nourishment. Feast on the Word of God regularly and enjoy knowledge of and appreciation of your Lord and Saviour. -Jim MacIntosh