Food for My Soul, January 14

Vital Power of the Word

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Luke 4:4.FLB 20.1

The Word of God is to be our spiritual food.^{55The Review and Herald, March 29, 1906.}FLB 20.2

The life of Christ that gives life to the world is in His word. It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons; by His word He stilled the sea, and raised the dead....FLB 20.3

As our physical life is sustained by food, so our spiritual life is sustained by the Word of God. And every soul is to receive life from God's Word for himself. As we eat for ourselves in order to receive nourishment, so we must receive the Word for ourselves....FLB 20.4

In His promises and warnings, Jesus means me.... The experiences related in God's Word are to be my experiences. Prayer and promise, precept and warning, are mine.^{56The Desire of Ages, 390.}FLB 20.5

The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God. The word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One....FLB 20.6

The life thus imparted is in like manner sustained. “By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) shall man live. The mind, the soul, is built up by that upon which it feeds; and it rests with us to determine upon what it shall be fed. It is within the power of every one to choose the topics that shall occupy the thoughts and shape the character.^{57Education, 126, 127.}FLB 20.7

Youth, in the name of Jesus I appeal to you whom I shall soon meet around the throne of God, Study your Bible. It will prove to you not only the pillar of cloud by day but the pillar of fire by night. It opens before you a path leading up and still upward, bidding you go forward. The Bible—you do not know its worth! It is a book for the mind, for the heart, for the conscience, the will, and the life. It is the message of God to you, in such simple style that it meets the comprehension of a little child. The Bible—precious Book! ^{58Manuscript 4, 1880.}FLB 20.8