Every living thing which God creates requires food. The life that God imparts needs sustaining and nourishing. It is so with animal and vegetable life,–with birds, beasts, fishes, reptiles, insects, and plants. It is equally so with spiritual life. When the Holy Ghost raises a man from the death of sin and makes him a new creature in Christ Jesus, the new principle in that man’s heart requires food, and the only food which will sustain it is the Word of God….
Love to the Word is one of the characteristics we see in Job. Little as we know of this Patriarch and his age, this at least stands out clearly He says, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food ‘” (Job 23:12).
Love to the Word is a shining feature in the character of David. Mark how it appears all through that wonderful part of Scripture, the 119th Psalm. He might well say, “Oh, how love I thy law!” (Ps. 119:97).
Love to the Word is a striking point in the character of St. Paul. What were he and his companions but men “mighty in the Scriptures?” What were his sermons but expositions and applications of the Word?
Love to the Word appears pre-eminently in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He read it publicly. He quoted it continually. He expounded it frequently He advised the Jews to “search” it. He used it as His weapon to resist the devil. He said repeatedly, “The Scripture must be fulfilled.”–Almost the last thing He did was to open the understanding of His disciples, “that they might understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45). I am afraid that man can be no true servant of Christ, who has not something of his Master’s mind and feeling towards the Bible.
