The Vital Sign of Hunger for God's Word
It is not unusual for someone who becomes physically sick to lose their appetite. In fact, when a person is deathly ill, the doctor will often pull loved ones aside and say, "Try to get them to eat something. If they're going to recover, they have to eat."The same is true when someone is sick spiritually. They lose their appetite for spiritual things. They lose their appetite for the Word of God. In fact, when you see a believer who has lost his or her hunger for God's Word, it is a sure sign that person needs to be revived.At least three times in Psalm 119, the psalmist tells us that one of the ways God will revive you when you are spiritually weak is through His Word.In verse 25 he says,My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. In verse 107 he says,I am afflicted very much; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. And then in verse 154 he says it again,Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word. If you are going to be revived, it will be in large part according to or through the Word of God. In fact, what the psalmist is literally saying is, "Give me life. Revive me through Your Word." The more you feed on God's Word, the more you hunger for it.So a critical vital sign of the spiritual life is a hunger, an appetite, for God's Word. There is a renewed hunger for spiritual truth when you are revived. As you feed upon His Word, it will give you more life, it will give you more strength, and it will give you spiritual vitality.
Peace & Love,
It is not unusual for someone who becomes physically sick to lose their appetite. In fact, when a person is deathly ill, the doctor will often pull loved ones aside and say, "Try to get them to eat something. If they're going to recover, they have to eat."The same is true when someone is sick spiritually. They lose their appetite for spiritual things. They lose their appetite for the Word of God. In fact, when you see a believer who has lost his or her hunger for God's Word, it is a sure sign that person needs to be revived.At least three times in Psalm 119, the psalmist tells us that one of the ways God will revive you when you are spiritually weak is through His Word.In verse 25 he says,My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. In verse 107 he says,I am afflicted very much; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. And then in verse 154 he says it again,Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word. If you are going to be revived, it will be in large part according to or through the Word of God. In fact, what the psalmist is literally saying is, "Give me life. Revive me through Your Word." The more you feed on God's Word, the more you hunger for it.So a critical vital sign of the spiritual life is a hunger, an appetite, for God's Word. There is a renewed hunger for spiritual truth when you are revived. As you feed upon His Word, it will give you more life, it will give you more strength, and it will give you spiritual vitality.
Peace & Love,
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