WATCHWORD:
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4.
Meditation:
Clean Plate Club
I have a dear friend, and many days we have meals together, mostly with other people in our community. My friend has a certain ‘style’ in the way he eats, with fork or spoon and often with a knife in his right hand. Habits engrained in his country of origin and the way his family instructed him.
I often smile to myself as I see his ‘style’ in action. It is so unique, and many a day it appears slower than the way I shovel food in. But I, too, have a ‘style’ I learned as an adult; putting my fork down after nearly every bite; which slows me down as well. At the end of this gracious dining “race”, I will still have food on my plate that I could not eat. While my friend has done everything short of lapping up his plate, not a scrap remains. He’s a member of the Clean Plate Club.
No one can deny the fact that we need food, substance to maintain our health, our stamina, and even our ability to think and reason. We love food; even to the point of having our favorite restaurant, our favorite item on the menu, and our willingness to drive miles to be able to enjoy that favorite. We could have all the food available in the world and never go hungry from a physical standpoint, yet this body of ours is an empty shell well fed by world standards, yet empty and lifeless.
Then Jesus comes and reminds us that we need more than food for mental and physical health, we need the Living Bread, the Bread of life. We need that spiritual sustenance to thrive in God’s graces.
I was reading a devotional recently where the author makes this statement: The one thing that truly energies, fills, and sustains is the Word of God. With God ‘s word as our constant companion and sustenance, we can be content even when other food is withheld.
Sometimes I think we treat God’s word capriciously, casually. We read it, we preach it, maybe we lead groups studying it, but it can come out as bland and meaningful as an ad in the newspaper, or a picture of your favorite entree on the menu. The Word of God is not to be treated that way. It is meant to be acted on, to be lived.
There is not a single word of God’s Word that we do not need, the Word of God is a well-rounded meal, and we are not meant to leave any part of it out. In other words, when it comes to God’s Word, we need to be a member of the Spiritual Clean Plate Club.
Are you living on bread alone? Or are you trying to live by every word that comes to you through the Word of God? May it be so with us.
Prayer for Meaning:
Lord, as I seek Your wisdom in every word of Your Holy Scriptures, I pray for a deeper understanding of Your Word. Let it penetrate my heart and mind, transforming my thoughts and actions to align with Your divine will. As bread sustains my physical body, I pray that every morsel of Your Word sustains my spiritual existence—reviving my soul, guiding my steps, and illuminating my path. May I treasure every syllable as a vital part of my Daily Bread, recognizing that satisfying my spiritual hunger is as important as my physical hunger for my life to be complete. I pray that you’ll strengthen me, Lord, open my heart to the deeper meaning of your Word. It’s in Jesus name. Amen.
