Every Word Of God

02/23/2006

Have you ever tasted manna from heaven? Your answer might immediately be, "No, that's impossible. I wasn't around when the Israelites wandered for forty years in the wilderness. I wasn't there when manna was sent to them by God so they would not go hungry." But, there is still "manna" around to this day and we can get a taste of it. I tasted some "manna" the other day, and it was sweet, and good, and so very wonderful...you know I'd love to tell you the story.

It was my birthday!

Yes, another year has passed, and it was a birthday I will not soon forget.
Why? Because, Jim and I are sort of wandering around in the wilderness right now. Sometimes we wonder if we will be here for forty years, and if so, in what ways are we failing to follow God's instructions into the Promised Land? Have we missed a turn somewhere? We pray, "Please show us where it is Lord, and we will follow..." It's not that things aren't happening out here in the "desert." There are many lessons to be learned along the way, but we just hope and pray we are moving in the right direction.

Which direction is that, you might ask? I would have to say one that leads us into a closer relationship with our Lord each day. That's the only direction we want to be headed in. A life that becomes less about us, and more about Him...and that can take some time...maybe even forty years?

As the years pass, and another birthday approached, our plans were few. It's not a time in our lives for extravagance; it's a time for simple pleasures, and we can appreciate that. We're adults, we understand, and our lives are devoted to more than celebrating us, but instead celebrating God, and all that He is and does and forever will be in our lives.

As I read Deuteronomy 8 this morning, it said, "Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would really obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry, and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people need more than bread for their life; real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord." (Verses 2 & 3 NLT)

As we listen to what some of us call, "prosperity preachers," it can seem that if we are going hungry, or if we are in need, we may be out of God's will. But from what I read here, God humbles us by letting us go hungry. Now believe me, Jim and I are not starving! Take one look at us, and you will know that! But, there is more to this "hunger" in our lives than meets the eye...let's just say the excesses in life are few and far between--but it's not a bad thing. It's a good thing, if we will see it from God's perspective.

In Deut. 8:16&17, it says, "He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did it so you would never think that it was your own strength and energy that made you wealthy."

On my birthday this year, God did exactly that. He taught me once again that it is not my own "strength and energy" that makes me wealthy, but only that which comes from Him. It is not of my own doing, but of His. The Message version says, "3He put you through hard times. He made you go hungry. Then he fed you with manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about..." (Deut. 8)

There are many "foods" that are unknown to us. Some are actual foods that fill an empty stomach, but many foods are found in the Word of God. For "man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. (Deut. 8:3b NIV)

On some days, God says, "Here! It's your birthday! I'm blessing you with wonderful, tasty foods, things you cannot afford, but I am your Father, and I can provide it for you." It was a bit of sweet manna from Heaven as I enjoyed lunch out, dinner out, and even a movie! It was not of my own doing, it was given to me, through others, and it touched my heart deeply. Did I "need" it? No, I did not. But the Lord is good, and through the goodness of others, I saw Him. I saw His faithfulness, and how He cares for His children.

And then on other days, He says, "It's not about food for your stomach, but food for your soul, and that food is found in my Word."
Will we read it?
Will we gobble it up?
Will we let it satisfy us on this day?

If we don't, we will be longing for more than a tasty meal and a good movie, we will be longing for someone to fill the emptiness within and to heal the hurts that plague us. We will feel alone in our distress, dissatisfied with our lot in life, and we'll go looking for something more, in all the wrong places, places that can lead us into disaster. That is not what God wants for any of us!

Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for forty days. He was tempted by the Devil to turn to other comforts, to satisfy His needs in ways that would not be pleasing to His Father. He was hungry, and the Devil tempted Him to change stones into loaves of bread. He was tempted to test God's protection, but He resisted. He was tempted to worship the Devil, but He answered by saying, "You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him." (Matthew 4)

Was it easy?
No, but Jesus survived, and went on to do the will of His Father.

Will our lives be easy?
Not usually!
But we will survive, and we can go on to do the will of our Father.

There was a time in my life, many years actually, when the Word of the Lord gathered dust on a shelf somewhere in my house. The Bible was there, a good thing, but it was not used. I was unaware of the riches it held, the sweet tasty morsels of "manna" it contained to give me strength for each new day. It was like I had a chocolate éclair sitting in the refrigerator, but I never opened the door, took it out and tasted how wonderful it was. What a waste! Was I not hungry enough to even go looking for it?

I guess I had to experience Deuteronomy 8, where "3He put you through hard times. He made you go hungry. Then he fed you with manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about, so you would learn that men and women don't live by bread only; we live by every word that comes from GOD's mouth". (The Message)

What does it take in our lives for this to become a reality?
For us to begin to live on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord?
And what will we find when that day comes?

We'll find sweet manna from Heaven.
A wondrous thing!!

There are times in our lives when the blessings will be many, when the land will be flowing with milk and honey, when we will have no wants that are not met, no needs that are not fulfilled, no desires that cannot become a reality...but those are the times when we must be most cautious. As the Bible talks about Hezekiah, it says, "...Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the Lord's anger came against him..." (2 Chron. 32:25 NLT) Hezekiah later changed his ways, but even then, there was a time when "God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart." (2 Chron. 32:31 NLT)

I have lived in the land of plenty, and I can't say as I responded appropriately to the kindness that had been shown to me. Years ago, I wasn't very "hungry." A little "wilderness training" now is tough, but it is a valuable time in walking with our Lord. When we are hungry for His presence, we will go looking for Him. We will long for something more than what this world has to offer, and we will find the Creator of Life as He should be found by us.

When we find Him, let's not stop there, let's open up the Words He left us with, written by those He chose to share His stories through, and find out more! God doesn't do anything without purpose, and to leave us with His Word until He returns must mean that it is a valuable tool that we need to use. So many have questions, and they go unanswered if the time is not taken to discover what it means when the Word says, "man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. (Deut. 8:3b NASB)

When we are sick, most of us will look for medicine that can be of some help. If it gets worse, we may even call a doctor, and see what he might suggest to remedy the situation. In days past, it has been said of doctors that we respond to them like they are a god. We trust their judgment, do what they prescribe and expect to get better as a result. Out of the mouth of the doctor, comes our cure...out of the mouth of the LORD, comes so much more! If we're ailing emotionally, sometimes even physically, and even more so spiritually, we need to look in the right place for healing. It doesn't always come in a pill, or at our job, or even on vacation, the deepest healing comes from the Word of the Lord.

If we want to know what this life is all about, we are going to have to open up our Bibles. We can't depend on others to tell us. Not even our pastor, not our mentor, not our friends or our spouse or our teachers. This is personal. It's not that others can't help along the way, God has provided others in our lives to encourage us and support us and pray for us, but this has to become personal. We have to take the time in prayer and in the Word that God is asking for if we are ever to know Him, as we should.

As I sat in a class this last Saturday, I listened to the teacher talk about many things, one of which was prayer. He said that if we will picture God on His throne, as our King, and if we will view prayer as entering into His throne room, it will transform our prayer lives. This is very true. We cannot just offer our prayers up to an unknown entity, sending them out into space somewhere, not knowing where they will end up, not understanding Who it is we are actually talking to. We need to get personal with our Father, we need to understand that Jesus is sitting at our Father's right hand interceding for us in our prayers, and we need to know that the Holy Spirit of God indwells our hearts here on earth. This is personal; this is a real relationship with a real God, with His real Son, and with His real Spirit, and He has given us His real Word as an instruction manual that should be used in the process!

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. (Isaiah 6:1 NLT)

This is where we start. With our real God on His throne! If we will open the Word, perhaps something in the Psalms, our time with our Father might look something like this:

Good morning Lord, my day is starting and I need You. I'm trying to picture entering into Your throne room, and seeing You seated there. It's hard Lord, but help me to see You. You say your Son is seated at Your right hand, so help me to see Him too Lord. I want to know You more, I want to get comfortable coming to You like this. I want to understand the role Jesus plays in all of this, Lord. Help me to understand that when I bow before You here, I can open my heart up to You and not be ashamed of who I am deep down inside. Help me to know that I don't need to hide anything from You, but that I can ask You for help in any area of my life. Bring to my mind anything that is not pleasing to you Lord, so that I can ask for forgiveness in that area. Help me to be honest. Help me to know that Jesus is here on my behalf, that His blood covers my sins, and that through Him I am forgiven and accepted by You. Thank you for Your goodness, I praise Your Holy Name.

I don't know where to turn in Your Word now that I'm here with You, so maybe I'll just open my Bible to the Psalms...this is what I'm reading, "O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, 'God will never rescue him!'" (Psalm 3:1&2)

How many times have I felt just that way Lord...how did You know that was on my heart today? I wonder sometimes if I will ever be rescued, please help me to know that You are here for me, that You are my friend, and that You will never leave me. I know it says that somewhere in Your Word Lord, let me look for it..."Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. "(Hebrews 13:5 NIV) - (For those with internet access, BibleGateway.com is an excellent way of finding what you are looking for in Scripture when you're not sure where it is!)

Hebrews seems like a good place to be this morning, so I'll read on a bit...Oh, look, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" (13:6 NLT) I need Your help, I am afraid. I feel so vulnerable in this world. I have so many "what if's" that plague me. Help me to find some peace in all of that. Your Word in Hebrews says I should trust You and that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (13:8) There's a lot of good stuff right here in Hebrews Lord, I think I'll read on. Show me anything You would want me to grab hold of as I read this... I long for the spiritual strength it talks about...oh it's talking about the sacrifices in the Holy Place. Isn't that where we are together right now? In Your throne room? Jesus made us holy by shedding His own blood...I saw that in "The Passion of the Christ"...this world is not our home, there is so much to look forward to...Jesus, you're here to help me...You will produce in me through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to Him. That's Your Holy Spirit Lord, I'm just beginning to understand what it means to have You living in me like that...Lord, this is just the tip of the iceberg of all You have to teach me in Your Word. Help me to open Your Word daily and learn more about You.

There are so many I can think of that I should pray for now, You know their needs, and mine, as I pray for all that is happening on this day...

Lord, thank you for this time bowed before You. For a quiet time that is shared with You alone. I know You just a little bit more because of this time spent with You. I was hungry, and You fed me sweet "manna" from Your Word. I was thirsty, and I drank in what You had to say. Help me to remain conscious of You all throughout the day, allowing Your Holy Spirit to control my every thought and action. Let it be pleasing to You. In the name of Your Son, Amen.

This is not tough stuff; this is one day at a time with our Lord. This is how we get to know Him. This is what the enemy will do everything in his power to keep us away from. This is what the Spirit inside will call us to and what we will ignore by putting everything else first, until weeks and months and years have passed and we will not have made it a priority. In doing so, we will miss the life we have been called to because we will not hear the One who is calling us! We will have settled for a seemingly good life and missed the very best life possible!!

When we start to live our lives, not on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the LORD, that is when we will truly start to live!

Ahhh, sweet manna from Heaven. Sometimes it comes when God provides a delicious meal out somewhere--sometimes it is even sweeter as we drink of it and eat of it in the precious Word of our Lord. When the manna fell from Heaven there in the wilderness, the Israelites had to go out and gather it up. It was there, if they desired it. I pray your desire, and my desire, for the Word of the Lord grows daily!

Needing Him,
Diane