Feeding on the Word

I must admit that I find some of the Old Testament books a bit tedious to read. So I wasn’t too thrilled when my Bible reading plan took me into Leviticus recently. I determined to approach my reading in a more focused way, asking the Lord to reveal something fresh and relevant each day, and I have found myself being blessed beyond expectation.

There is a saying from St Augustine: ‘In the Old Testament the New is concealed, in the New Testament the Old is revealed’. This has been a big help for me as I read the Old Testament looking for signposts to Jesus and the New Covenant, likewise, using the New Testament to reveal more understanding of some of the harder texts, like Leviticus.

Ephesians 5:25-27 reminds us that ‘Christ loved the church (us!) and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water with the word.’  What an intriguing picture – the power of the logos and rhema word of God is like getting into a shower and washing away all the physical dirt of the day.

Through Scripture, God breathes His inspired word into our lives (2 Timothy 3:16). This will cleanse us from our sin and bring us into that place of holiness that gives us perfect relationship with Him. Feeding on the word will teach, rebuke, correct and train us in righteousness. When Paul was writing his letter to Timothy, he was referring to what we know as the Old Testament writings, and the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament, which includes the book of Leviticus) would have been very much in his thoughts.

Why should we continue reading and feeding on the whole of God’s word? The last part of 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that it is so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. In the same way that I like to start my day with a nourishing breakfast, so that I have energy for the day, I need to fill myself with the word in order to do the things the Lord has prepared for me to do each day.