"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy,
with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these
things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to
all.”     (I Timothy 4:13-15)

We all feed upon something, whether it be theology, pleasure, education,
or just plain filth, but for the Christian there is something better to
feed upon. As single men, it would be better if we did eat poison rather
than feed upon that which inflames the flesh. I find it hard to believe
that some married men will sit and watch almost pornographic scenes in
movies and never think about it. What we feed upon will in many ways
influence what we may become and govern our relationships with others. If
you watch someone be unfaithful you may follow that pattern. Will we
subject ourselves to watch fornication and other acts of violence, when
as Christians we claim to have been saved from those things? What do you
feed upon? Are you abiding in God’s word?

[And Jesus said,] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” 
“Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself
unless it abide in the vine, thus neither can you unless you abide in
me.” (John 15:1 and 4)

Jesus sets forth a picture of us as branches in a tree. In verse 5 He
says that there is no life apart from Him. If you take a tree and girdle
it into the sapwood you will kill it. If you cut off a branch, that
branch will die for it cannot sustain itself. So it is with those who are
merely religious, for we were not made to exist apart from God. This is
where filling our hearts and minds with His word (the Bible) is so
important. Jesus said in John 6:63,

“It is the Spirit which quickens, the flesh profits nothing: the words
which I have spoken unto you are spirit and are life.”

If we are found abiding in His word then are we sustained day by day as
we learn more of Him. We are able to go on in the Spirit, to enter into
eternal life, to live in the good of that, and to be healthy and full of
vigor. A plant that has no food supply soon dies and the man who neglects
the word of God is like a plant that is in poor health. It may bear
fruit, but that fruit is stunted and sickly looking.

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you
will and it shall come to pass to you. In this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit, so you shall become my disciples.” (John
15:7-8)

How can we abide in the Lord if we do not partake of His word? If we
follow man’s pathway and become separated from the revelation of the
Christ through the word we will suffer great loss. Our minds are renewed
and our lives are changed by the word of God.

“Jesus answered and said, It is written, Man, shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
(Matthew 4:4)

You notice that the word “live” comes up in this verse. We do not only
live by physical sustenance, but by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God. Its workings come forth in that it cleanses and conforms us
to the will of God (Please refer to I John 5:6-11).

Do you see why the apostle Paul was exhorting Timothy to read, to
meditate, and to commit himself to the Word? At that time they only had
the Old Testament, but the exhortation was the same. Give thyself to the
Word of God!
        
The single man dare not neglect the scripture for it is the instruction
manual that will guide him throughout life. It gives of its strength to
ward off temptations and fleshly desires. It gives direction and guidance
in daily life and cleanses the sin that so easily comes upon him. It
gives stability so that we are not clouds without water, carried about by
every wind of doctrine (Please refer to Ephesians 4:14 & Jude 12).

Read the Bible daily, for we so easily forget and are led astray. It
brings refreshment and strength to face each day. Fill your mind with it
by meditating upon it in your heart and in prayer. Treasure it in your
heart, for it is the revelation of the Christ and of our God. If we are
to be overcomers of this day, then it must have the preeminence. Make it
yours today and live in the light of what God has revealed. May it be
first and foremost in starting the day, for through it comes life and
spiritual health.

May the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth so that Christ may be
manifested. Give thyself to the Word of God.

M. H. G.

E-Mail Matthew H Goins