EATING THE COOK BOOK
Except ye eat of the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6:53
Many dear people have a lovely doctrine or theory of the victorious life or the indwelling Christ or the Spirit-filled life, and they try to live on their theory, but thy do not feed on Christ. They are like a man trying to live on a cook book instead of food, chewing on a seed catalogue instead of on vegetables. They may be very orthodox Bible students, but they do not chew and digest the words which are spirit and life.
It is tragic to go through our days making Christ the subject of our study but not the sustenance of our souls. It is not the Word hid in the head but in the heart that keeps from sin. To appropriate Christ Himself, the Bread of Life, is to live by faith and grow. You can starve reading books on bread. You can search the Scriptures and not come to Him for life.
7 comments:
"They are like a man trying to live on a cook book instead of food, chewing on a seed catalogue instead of on vegetables."
Great analogy! This is a very good post. It really is easy to study the subject without a heart involvement but then all it is is knowledge without life. That really is a disaster.
Aida
Yeah, interesting way to put it Matt!
I had a friend recently, (who is stuck in a legalistic church by the way) that was going through a season of anxiety and bad health, over a significant life change...anyway, he said this trial was causing him to cling to his bible more...while that's not wrong or anything.....I suggested he cling to Him, Christ, he is a person, cling to Him....
anyway, in the past I would have starved too....espeicially cause I love to read cookbooks and seed catalogs, How did you know??!!! :)
Grace to you!
Lydia, I can relate to that. Years ago, I had a co-worker tell me that her mother slept with her Bible thinking that would protect her.
It's amazing how we've replaced a relationship with God with a relationship with our Bibles. We expect it to do those things that only God can do. For some people . . . you can take away their God but you better not touch their Bible.
Aida
Amen all!
I don't know how many times I've heard "the word of God" in verses like Heb 4:12 interpreted as "the Bible."
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
The Bible is living? The Bible is powerful? The Bible can discern the thoughts and intents of the heart?
Lest the readers of that verse not quite understand what "the word of God" means, the writer of Hebrews goes on in the next sentence:
"And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
The scriptures (the menu) simply point us to the word of God, Jesus (the meal). Great stuff, Matthew and everyone!
Good one Matthew! When I read it John 5:39,40 came to mind:
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
AWESOME post Man!
I have heard it called head knoweledge vs. heart knoweledge! Someone could know everything there is to know about God and what the bible says, but there is a BIG difference in 'knowing' what the bible says and knowing Father as your personal Lord and Savior! (YOUR LIFE).
Good comments too, everyone! :)
In Freedom, Nicole!
wonderful post! Keep it up :)
Post a Comment