Productive and Nourishing

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

The Bible should not be read like a history book, although it is filled with history. Likewise, it is not a science textbook, although it contains many statements about biology, botany, and other scientific inquiry. I often refer to it as a “Human Repair Manual” because it is both productive and nourishing.

Two passages come to mind on this, one in Isaiah and the other in Deuteronomy.  

The Word is productive, Isaiah 55.10-11 - As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I send it.

As we speak the Word to others, it may encourage some, exhort some, and convict some. It may guide, strengthen, and embolden some. But regardless the response, you can rest assured that God’s Word always accomplishes its intended purposes. The Word is like an effective messenger that goes to and from doing God’s work. 

The Word is nourishing, Deuteronomy 8.3 - Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Like food is to the body, God’s Word nourishes believers, causing him or her to grow spiritually.

How should we respond to such a Word? 

Trust it, thereby living each day in confidence. 

Proclaim it to others, so they will hear it and come to know the divine author too. 

Obey it, allowing it to transform you, becoming more Christlike each day.

God’s Word is both productive and nourishing.

All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3.16-17