“This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

     Is the Word of God something special in your home?

     “He answered, ‘It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:4) Jesus quotes a passage from Deuteronomy that emphasizes the importance of Scriptures in our daily lives. Do we see Scripture as important as food? We have teenagers in our home, and I don’t think our kitchen knows what hit it. We hunger and thirst for satisfaction of our stomachs. However, food is not the issue here; it is the condition and desires of our heart and soul.

     What is your family’s desires? Does it seem that your primary desires are to ‘keep up with the Jones,’ to provide a “better” (more materials) life for your family, or to promote your own family skills or abilities? If you looked through the pages of Facebook, we can see the many desires of our human nature. Are we too easily pleased? Yet, at the same time, if we are being entirely honest with ourselves and our misplaced desires, we are empty — an empty that screams to be filled, driving us back into the kitchen (or shopping or busy-ness, etc). We fill it with quick carbs, a new shirt, a new adventure, but it burns away fast and the empty returns again. Is there something better?

     Here is a thought-provoking quote from C.S. Lewis in The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

     Infinite joy. What does that look like? Can it be found? Is it even real? Is the bread you have sought fulfilling you? Bringing the infinite joy you seek? We can sustain life on bread, but are we thriving (really living)? There is a strong difference between the terms ‘surviving’ and ‘thriving’. As William Wallace said, “Every man dies. Not every man really lives.”

     We have a choice, especially within the life and legacy of our families — to either promote infinite joy or daily drudge: Mud pies in slums or holidays at the sea…Daily grind or the adventure of God’s glory.

     Infinite joy is knowing God and basking in His glory. It is not obtainable if we simply live by bread alone. We must feast on His Word! “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17

     Through righteousness we have access to the infinite joy of the Lord because of the mighty work of God — not of our own doing, but the gracious gift of love brought to us by the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ. As seen in the passage that started this post, this is not a human message but one from the God of the universe, the King of kings, Lord of lords, mighty redeemer, our infinite joy, and our divine revelation.

     I pray that you have been searching Scripture and praying about the revelation God has for your family. If not, it is never too late to start.

     Revelation is found in Scripture. “Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I bear your name, Lord God of Armies.” Jeremiah 15:16

     Are you hungry for a revelation? Are you ready to lead your family in infinite joy and together live by more than bread alone? Start by getting into the word. Here are a few links to spur on your family Bible reading time:*

     Unfortunately, I recently read some shocking statistics from Barna that approximately half of Americans are “Bible users” who engage with the Bible on their own at least three to four times a year (outside of church). And yes, that said only 3-4 times per year. The stats continue in that only 14 percent of the population use the Bible daily. That number has declined over the years.

     So, although many agree that the Bible is a powerful and transformative tool in their life, are they engaging with it as much as they should if a person is classified as a Bible user if they only engage with God’s Word three or four times a year? If you tell your spouse you love him or her only three or four times a year, will he/she believe it is true?

     If we agree that the Scriptures is the Word of God, then shouldn’t we regard the Bible as preeminent in our lives?  

* Please remember that we are not responsible for the content on link sites, nor do we receive any compensation from any of these links.