Page 4 - Our Food: The Word of God - February 2018 - Truth & Tidings

cuts and no quick answers. The Word must sibility placed on elders to ensure that the
not only be read – that is important and saints are fed. Writing in his first epistle,
good – but it should be meditated upon. To Peter exhorts the elders to “Feed the flock
meditate means to ponder, muse and re- of God which is among you” (1Peter 5:2,
flect upon what has been read. By meditat- KJV). Paul uses the same word, “feed,”
ing upon the Word, we learn what it says, when addressing the Ephesian elders in
what it means, and how we should apply it Acts 20. While this word means more than
to our lives. It is crucial to take time to ab- just the provision of food (it covers the
sorb and digest the Word. This involves whole thought of tending and shepherd-
uninterrupted time set aside on a daily ba- ing), it encompasses the exhortation to
sis, in a place free from distraction, to ade- nourish and feed. In the natural realm, it
quately feed my soul. would be unthinkable that a shepherd
would not provide food for his sheep.
Some believers become preoccupied Elders are likewise required to ensure that
with the volume of their daily reading, but the saints under their care have spiritual
it is far more important to understand what food to feed upon. That is why one of the
we are reading than to focus exclusively on requirements of the elder is that he must be
the quantity we have read. The issue is not “Apt to teach” (1Tim 3:2, KJV).
necessarily the number of verses or chap-
ters read, but the depth to which the DELIGHT IN FEEDING
Scriptures are understood and are allowed Generally speaking, we eat foods we
to speak to the heart. In this regard, C. H. enjoy and we are satisfied. Feeding on the
Spurgeon once said: “Some people like to Word should not be approached as a task
read so many chapters every day. I would which needs to be done each day, but rather
not dissuade them from the practice, but I it should be “the joy and rejoicing” (Jer
would rather lay my soul asoak in half a 15:16, KJV) of our hearts. As you feed on
dozen verses all day than I would, as it were, the Scriptures, may they delight and
rinse my hand in several chapters.” strengthen your soul. They have been given
by the Lord Himself. “I have given them
DUTY TO FEED Thy word” (John 17:14, KJV). Look for

Although it is the responsibility of ev- Him on every page. May we ever be found
ery believer to ensure that they are feeding feeding and drawing on the inexhaustible
on the Word of God, there is also a respon- supply of the Word of God.

Additional copies: A. J. Higgins - ahigginsmd@msn.com OR Paul Glenney - PGlenney@
TruthandTidings.com. Web site: www.TruthandTidings.com.