Someone was telling me about a survival show on T.V.

A guy was dropped way out in the forest. He had to make his own shelter and catch his own food. But he had to remain healthy. Otherwise he would be medically evacuated and taken to safety.

He made a shelter. He even caught a bunch of fish. He stored up his food. But after a while, he was pulled from the show. He wondered what was wrong. After all, look at all his food!

The problem, they told him, was that he wasn’t eating it. He was storing it up, but wasn’t digesting enough food to remain healthy.

Everything he needed to be healthy was right in front of him. But he didn’t partake.

Here’s the connection. In Matthew 4:4 Jesus says: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” How many of us have everything we need to be spiritually healthy, but don’t partake?

The Bible has never been more easily available. If you’re in North America like me you can openly attend worship services and Bible studies to learn more from the Scriptures. You can even tune in online if you can’t get there in-person. You can download Bible study apps or purchase books. You can read blogs, listen to podcasts, join small groups, attend youth groups, and tune in to radio or TV stations. 

This isn’t a guilt trip. I’m sure a lot of you are well-fed. But each of us need the reminder that having a lot of food isn’t the same as eating a lot of food.

Remember Jesus’ words. Bread won’t help you if you don’t eat it. Just ask that guy in the wilderness. In the same way, God’s word won’t nourish you if you don’t partake.

Read.

Study.

Digest.

Be strengthened.

Bless others.

Repeat.

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

---

Notes:

–This Sunday at Westminster (September 17, 2023), I’ll be teaching about being a people-pleaser vs. a God-pleaser.

–The Up Devotional is published five days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on September 18, 2023.