The Bible presents itself as spiritual sustenance. "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2:2). The word of God is the food that the soul needs to survive.
What happens if a soul never "feeds" upon the word of God? Certainly, that soul will be much like a babe that never receives milk. The soul will become weak and malnourished until it starves to death.
Sadly, there is a widespread spiritual starvation in the world. One might say that there is a "famine" for the word of God. Amos prophesied of a famine for the word of God that would be sent upon Israel (Amos 8:11) that would be worse than even a famine for food. But there is a significant difference between the famine prophesied by Amos and the famine of our time: people of our time are choosing to starve. Although many are starving for the word of God, few are hungry for it.
In the United States, there is no lack of printed Bibles to be obtained. Many can even be had free of charge. Many people even have more than one Bible in their own homes, and yet they are still starving for the word of God. The reason is that they do not "desire the pure milk of the word" as "newborn babes." Such a person is like a man who is on the verge of starving to death but refuses to eat, even though he has an abundance of food.
Such a problem is not surprising from people of the world. They do not profess to have any appetite for the word of God, but instead fill their bellies with the objects of their own lusts.
However, there are many that profess Christianity who share in this problem.This is evident from the Christians who have no interest in attending Bible classes, do not read the word of God on their own, daydream instead of listening to the gospel preached, and consequently lack the vital knowledge of Scriptures. Where is their hunger?
The result is that many Christians are "malnourished" because they refuse to eat. They cannot grow because they are not receiving the necessary sustenance. Thus, they are withering away and ready to die.
Friends and brethren, the feast is spread! Let us stop depriving ourselves and feed upon the word of God. Let us invite others to the feast that they may also live. There is no need for anyone to starve for the word of God, for we have it in abundance. All things are ready, come to the feast!
