RULES FOR MAINTAINING AN APPETITE FOR THE WORD OF GOD.
By F. B. Meyer
THOSE who want to maintain an appetite for the word of God must avoid unwholesome sweetmeats. The reading of novels and all sorts of tid-bits will speedily destroy the Christian appetite for Scripture. We may be compelled to read many things, but let us avoid whatever genders a distaste for the word of God. Then if you would have this appetite unspoiled take plenty of exercise. The boy who has lost his appetite will probably regain it by going in for athletics. So in spiritual things, if we want more truth let us exercise the truth we have. It is one of the laws of God's kingdom that he will not give us fresh truth until we have acted on what we have learned. Let no chasm yawn between knowledge and obedience. If you want to know, you must do. If you want an appetite you must breathe good air. Those who live in a vitiated atmosphere lose their appetite, which they regain wonderfully on the breezy hill-side. So let us climb the mountains of communion; let us 'come out and be separate,' or 'come up and be separate,' and we shall learn to enjoy our Bible. If we would maintain our appetite for the word, let us seek to take well rather than take much. A small quantity of food well masticated does more good than a large quantity hastily swallowed. So in reading the Bible it is not a question of reading so many chapters and verses, but of pondering well what we do read, and gaining some definite thought from it. One more hint, secure quiet for your Bible reading. You will never read the word to profit if you always read it in a hurry and bustle. Get alone with it if you can, and sit reverently at its feet; or, rather, at the feet of Him who is the living Word, and of whom the written word testifies.—F. B. Meyer, in The Watchman (Chicago).