I was listening to the news this morning and there was a lot of discussion about Halloween candy and the dangers within. Sadly, they were talking about pills and razor blades found in some children’s candy, not the worthless calories.

That being said, many parents struggle with this time of the year as their children end up getting filled up with sugar rather than more nutritional food. In many ways, it is a reflection of our own lives when it comes to our relationship with God. We often get filled with other “food” rather than God and His Word.

In 1 Peter 2:2, Peter writes, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”

As a diabetic, there are many things I shouldn’t eat. I have to watch my carb intake, my alcohol intake… and on top of that, I need to work out regularly. I even went to a workshop on diet and the importance of balance… Sadly, listening and doing are often different.

I love gadgets, but I don’t like to read user’s manuals. So when I buy some new gadget, I will start pushing buttons and always end up doing the very thing that I wasn’t supposed to do. It is always good to consult the user’s manual. The same is true of our lives.

The Bible gives us direction, and it also warns us about things we should avoid. 2 Tim 3:16–17 tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 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.”

God’s Word is alive. It is full of living power, exposing us for what we really are.
Saturday, being Reformation Day, reminds of what the great reformer Martin Luther had to say. To him, “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.”

One way that a doctor can tell whether someone is healthy or sick is by their appetite or lack thereof. When a patient doesn’t have an appetite, it is usually an indication that something is wrong. In the same way, if you are a Christian and don’t have an appetite for God’s Word, that is an indication of a spiritual breakdown. It would say that you are not where you ought to be spiritually, because hungry children are healthy children.

Success or failure in the Christian life is dependent on how much of the Bible you get into your heart and mind on a daily basis and how obedient you are to it. If you neglect the study of the Scriptures, then your spiritual life ultimately will unravel. Why? Because everything you need to know about God is taught in the Bible.