Food for the Heart

 

Situated at the far end of my parents’ main living space is a large aquarium. Directly over the opening of the tank sits a piece of glass that supports a small potted Ivy plant.  Over a short span of time, the plant has profoundly stretched its vines, draping the aquarium. 

 

Just recently, our family was away for some time.  Upon our return the ivy plant was found lifeless, it withered to almost one third its size.  Most ironic is the fact that the plant was positioned directly over a large tank of water, with its leaves nearly submerged.  Yet because no one took the time to physically water it, it wilted and nearly died. 

 

Just like this ivy plant, our inner spiritual man (heart) requires uninterrupted, intentional care.  It’s not enough to be positioned in the most ideal spiritual environment.  You may be in the most anointed church, surrounded with good people, or have accumulated tons of spiritual material.  

 

Yet if you don’t take the time and responsibility to regularly feed on it, your spiritual man will wither and die.   

 

The purest form of spiritual food is God’s word.  It gives your inner man growth

 

like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow…(1 Peter 2:2 NLT)

 

It has the ability to nourish and keep alive your spirit man.  

The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.  (John 6:63 NIV)

You personally , are responsible for applying yourself

 

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life…(John 6:27 NIV)

 

Attending service on a weekly basis does not suffice, just as eating a single physical meal would not suffice.  God was gracious enough to offer a daily readily accessible food source, his word.  

he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food... (Acts 14:17 ASV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supporting text

 

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (Heb.5:12-14)

 

I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;  (John 6:51)

 

See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the … feast.  (Matt. 22:4 ESV)