Scripture reading: John 4:31-34
Leviticus 11:4-8 speaks of the cud chewing animals which are unclean in spite of their agreeing with the word and chewing the cud. If they do not have cloven hoofs along with the cud chewing, they are UNCLEAN. Here is a basic lesson in discernment by observation. One cannot walk in the Word except by the Spirit of God. SATAN CAN PREACH THE WORD, but neither he nor his angels, nor sinful carnal man can WALK in the WORD. It takes the Spirit of God in man to walk in the Word. If we preach the right word, but do not walk or live that which we preach, Leviticus 11:4 likens us to the camel. On the other hand, if we imitate Christ by our walk only, scripture likens us to the swine who walks with a cloven hoof, but does not achieve the distinction of chewing the cud.
Our pastures are well prepared by God and those who obey the Word of God, which is His revealed will to us, will know the truth and the truth shall make us free. Here is a scripture which beautifully illustrates this thought:
John 7:16-17, “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. 17 If any man will DO his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
Let us be reminded here that the word “eat” has the meaning of becoming one with that which we eat. So that even as our bodies feed by taking in natural food, which supplies energy for our lives, the soul feeds on spiritual food either from God or from elsewhere. Many times, Jesus made reference to natural and spiritual food in the same utterance. When Jesus was being tempted of the devil to make stones into bread, He shifted the argument by one utterance from the natural to the spiritual:
Luke 4:4, “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
Again, there was another occasion when His disciples left Him with the woman at the well in Samaria and went to procure meat:
John 4:31-32 & 34, “In the meanwhile his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But He said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”
Remember, we are becoming one with that which we eat.
(Excerpt from The Pattern, pg. 89-90)
Thought for the day: Just as we need to eat healthy food in the natural, let us eat the true Word of God that brings forth life in the spiritual.
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