“O taste and see that the LORD is good…” Psalm 34:8

“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be HEALTH to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones” (Proverbs 3:7,8).

“Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent LEANNESS into their soul” (Psalm 106:12-15).

“As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the HEALTH of my countenance, and my God” (Psalm 42:11; 43:5).

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: SWEETER also than HONEY and the HONEYCOMB. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7-11).

“The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured forever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee” (Psalm 81:15,16).

“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:97-104).

“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are LIFE unto those that find them, and HEALTH to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:20-23).

“Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it” (Proverbs 8:6-11).

“The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them…A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised…There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is HEALTH. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (Proverbs 12:6,8,18).

“A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence” (Proverbs 13:2).

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:13-15).

“The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:23,24).

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee” (Proverbs 22:17-21).

“Eat thou not the BREAD of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words…My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things…Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way…Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding” (Proverbs 23:6-12,15,16,19,23).

“My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul…” (Proverbs 24:13,14).

“A word fitly spoken is like APPLES of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he REFRESHETH the soul of his masters” (Proverbs 25:11-13).

“Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good” (Isaiah 7:15).

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts” (Isaiah 28:9).

“And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey” (Revelation 10:9).

In order to function as the healthy ambassador God expects you to be, you need to have an appreciation for nutrition so that you might be “strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Col 1:11). This means you need to understand the vital role that the “word of truth” plays in your “growth” through the edification process. This is a spiritual transaction that deals with “knowledge” communicated in the “word of truth” which contains the “words of truth” and when studied “rightly divided” (2Tim 2:15) will bring about an understanding of the “sound doctrine” which will form a doctrinal house out of which you will live the details of your life to the honour and glory of God. This of course is part of your “reasonable service” (Rom 12:1) as you are “not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1Cor 6:19,20). God has designed His Word to “effectually” work in you so that His power might be manifested in your life. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

And so, we as Bible Believers deal with some very special “words.” Words, which when approached with a humble, honest and believing heart, will bring about “understanding” and produce “wisdom.” They are words which will impart life and “health” to our inner man, transform our very being, conform us into the “image” of God’s SON, and “strengthen” us to “fight the good fight of faith” and “be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…” (Eph 6:13). His word is capable of fully equipping us so that we need not “faint” when faced with the “bondage of corruption” of this world which causes all creation to “groan” and “travail” in “pain together until now” (Romans 8:23).

These words are unlike anything to be found on planet earth. These are the words of life, the words of the living God. They have been breathed upon by the very God who opened His mouth and spoke the universe into existence by His word. He is THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life and by His Spirit He speaks to us today, calling us to fellowship and communion with Himself through His Son and His cross-work as the “Redeemer.”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-5,9,14).

When it comes to the “truth,” this world is indeed a dark place filled with much confusion. Nevertheless, as children of God and therefore “children of light”, we have a “light that shineth in a dark place” (2Peter 1:19) and are called on as the “church, the pillar and ground of the truth” to bear that light and show “the Way” as we point men and women to our glorious “mother country” (Galatians 4:26; Philippians 3:19-21; Colossians 3:1-4) and the Lord who offers them freedom from the bondage of this present world system.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:31-36).

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word…teach me thy judgements. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart…I hate vain thoughts; but thy law do I love…I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:105-130).

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)” (Ephesians 5:8).

“Therefore seeing we have received this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the TRUTH commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” (2Corinthians 4:1-7).

“For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the HUNGRY soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High” (Psalm 107:9-11).

These words are absolutely essential to your spiritual life. Without them, you will be nothing but a miserable pile of bones. What you need is the breath of God.

“The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life” (Job 33:4).

“My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word…My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word…Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me…The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver…My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word…They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth…Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me” (Psalm 119:25,28,49,50,72,81,87,88,92,93).

“And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live” (Ezekial 37:3-9).

“The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:6-8).

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:6-8).

“It is the spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

“But he 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).

“…If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37,38).

“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may GROW thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1Peter 2:1-3).

“But GROW in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2Peter 3:18).

“But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness” (Acts 26:25).

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able” (1Cor 3:1,2).

Water, milk, bread, butter, barley, beans, lentils, honey, honeycomb, apples, meat, fish. EAT UP! Whether you be a newborn babe “in Christ” or have moved on to a much stronger diet, everything you need has been made available for you to refresh your soul, strengthen your inner man, and GROW as you continue your new life “in Christ.” Simply put, it is God’s desire for you to be “FILLED” with something through the edification process.

When you believed “Paul’s gospel” – the “gospel of the grace of God” – you became a partaker of the power that brought the world, and all that therein is, into existence. That power is now resident in His Word, the Bible, and it has been designed to work in your inner man as you labor with God according to the blueprint and instructions that have been given to you (1Cor 3:7-10). It is through the edification process that the Holy Spirit feeds you spiritually and gives life to the power that is in His word. From there it is your privilege to labour with God and put His Word into effect manifesting just what power that Word is capable of. You do this in the face of “…principalities, powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). This is part of the “MYSTERY of godliness” (1Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 3:10) and is our calling and priviledge as members of God’s “one new man” and participants of the “Mystery” program He is now conducting with planet earth.

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Whom we preach, warning every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man PERFECT in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:26,27).

“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also called of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:3-6).

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16,17).

“Now the God of hope FILL you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, FILLED with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Romans 15:13,14).

“Now to him that is of POWER to stablish you ACCORDING TO my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ACCORDING TO the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began” (Romans 16:25).

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the POWER of God…For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified. unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the POWER of God, and the wisdom of God…But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1Corinthians 1:8,21-24,30,31).

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the POWER may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh…For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2Cor 4:7-11,15,16).

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, THAT the POWER of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2Cor 12:9,10).

“For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you…For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection” (2Cor 13:4,9).

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his POWER to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty POWER” (Ephesians 1:19).

“Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his POWER…That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that worketh in us” (Eph 3:7,16-20).

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the POWER of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:10,11).

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9,10).

“That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1Thessalonians 2:12,13).

“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the POWER of God” (2Timothy 1:8).

And so, His Word will put flesh on those dry bones and breathe life into your inner man so you can function in accordance with your “calling” as a member of God’s “one new man.” If you want to “grow” and stay healthy, rather than being weak in your walk of faith, then it is essential that you maintain a proper diet. When you cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the edification process, and allow Him to do His work through the power of God’s Word, He will cause you to “grow up” into the “image” that God has purposed to put on display through you as a member of His mystery program. And so…

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness…Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:23,24; 5:17,18).

“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all…And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in you all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another…” (Colossians 3:10,11,15,16).

“…Unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the TRUTH in love, may GROW UP into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph 4:13-16).

There is far more to this issue than we can examine here, especially as it relates to your “mental health,” etc. Simply put, it is incredibly important what does, and does NOT, go into your inner man as you seek to order your soul in accordance with God’s Word. God has given specific doctrines to take effect in your inner man when they are appropiated by faith and you obtain wisdom by taking heed to God’s instructions concerning your walk of faith in this world. Or, as Paul says on numerous occasions, “I would not have you ignorant, brethren.” It is Satan’s desire and goal to make this denomination-Ignorant Brethren-the largest in Christendom. It is our responsibility as members of the Body of Christ to “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery” (Eph 3:9) and appreciate the power that God has deposited in the “words of truth” which God has committed to our trust. Above all, our responsibility is to be “faithful” with those “words of truth” in accordance with our instructions (1Corinthians 3:10; 4:1,2).

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1Timothy 3:15).

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us” (2Timothy 1:13,14).

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2Timothy 2:1,2).

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker…In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2Timothy 2:14-17,24-26).

“But thou hast fully known my doctrine…But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the HOLY scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2Timothy 3:10,13-17).

“A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is HEALTH” (Proverbs 13:17).

A feast has been prepared for your soul, and you have been invited to come to the table of the Lord, commune with the very WORD of God and “taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him” (Psalm 34:8). This offer is still open. The invitation is extended to you and all you need do is COME, COME, COME!

“As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread…Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine…Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise…So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?…Feed my lambs…Feed my sheep…Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).

“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread…Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils” (1Corinthians 10:14-17,21).

“Wisdom…she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she sayeth to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding” (Proverbs 9:1-6).

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live…” (Isaiah 55:1-3).

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

“As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me” (Song of Solomon 2:3-5).

“And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them” (Luke 24:38-43).

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss FOR THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but DUNG, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:7-10).

“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth MORE THAN MY NECESSARY FOOD” (Job 23:12).

David Winston Busch