The
Key to the heart of the Christian spirit is preparation –
preparation for feeding on God's rich precious word. SNACKING on
God's word gives no more energy to one's spirit than eating potato
chips or worse yet – eating a photograph of a steak dinner. The
other extreme is GOBBLING down the one or two chapters required for
each day's reading by some chart. It's no surprise when the
'faithful' reader comes away confused or frustrated in trying to make
sense of what is being read – would this be mental indigestion? The
snacking or gobbling of scripture is likely to leave the reader with
less encouragement and clarity of the God-honoring path ahead, than
when they read the first word of scripture. To emphasize, - the
simple solution to getting energized with a vision for the proper
road ahead, is preparation; preparation as we open God's inspired,
time-tested book of promises, peace, and purpose.
Table
Grace
Each and
every time we approach scripture to feed on its strength-giving
power, our preparation should follow much of the same steps that we
practice in approaching our dinner table. Our senses see the tasty
food on the table or being cooked. Our noses flash the signals to our
taste buds that yummy things we'll soon enjoy. Our anticipation is
even heightened as we help put plates and silverware on the table.
The smells and sights remind us of lip-smacking, finger-licking
flavors we've enjoyed before. All this makes it a little hard to be
seated with head bowed, our nose inches from the plate, but thanking
God for this food and a fantastic body to enjoy it. We faithfully and
lovingly ask God to show us how He wants us to use the energy and
fellowship we receive at this table, for Him.
Bible
Grace
We've just
touched on our all-important preparation for feeding at our dinner
table – table grace. Our preparation for feeding on scripture each
time, is much the same.
As we
approach God's Word, our eyes focus on the book, probably with
yellowing ragged pages. There might be a bookmark or two, peeking
from the pages – reminders of promises that led to answered prayers
for our hearts. As we lightly touch the worn wrinkled cover, our
spirit flashes a question in our mind, “I wonder how many broken
spirited hope-hungry people on this planet would love to savor just
one page of scripture, in their own language?” Our spirit of
gratitude to God says Thank You for not being one of the 180 million
people that have no scripture in their own language, nor live in a
country where they would be allowed to share it with others.
An important
part of preparation before feeding on God's Word, is knowing the Holy
Spirit is an alive loving teacher, given by God to teach us the
meaning and application of scripture, as promised by Christ: John
14:26 But
the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you
all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
have said unto you.
We
must also approach scripture (as we do with the dinner table) that,
to remain healthy, our bodies require exercise, to keep muscles from
developing atrophy. (Atrophy
is the decline in effectiveness or vigor by their under use or
neglect). Sadly, many Christians fall into the snare of Satan's power
and purpose, by their spiritual/scriptural atrophy. They then become
evil testimonies in the eyes of others.
No.
I would never title a sermon, “Spiritually Constipated.”
Feeding
to Our 'Full Mark'
Each
of us prepare our minds to feed on the dinner table offerings till
we're full. A precious verse referring to the purpose of scripture
connects it to Christ's teachings and our spirit of joy (i.e. 'Full
Joy')
These
things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you,
and that your
joy might be full. John 15:11. Taking a
close look at all the parts of that verse is a full course meal of
strength and inspiration, in itself. But certainly that's what we
should always expect when we open our hearts and minds to what Jesus
Christ and His inspired word say to us.
