February 20

The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. — John 6:63 BSB

It is through the Word that the soul is first cleansed. It is by the Word that the soul is born again to eternal life. It is also through the Word, applied to the heart, that the Holy Spirit keeps alive communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. Is this not true in your experience? Some passage of Scripture touches the soul, some promise warms the heart, and as it enters, it makes room for itself. It enters the heart, breaks down the feelings, melts the soul, and draws forth living faith, centering on the “altogether lovely One.”

There are times when the Word of God feels like a dead letter—we see and feel no sweetness in it. But at other times, through God’s mercy, the Word becomes sweet and precious to us, as when the prophet said, “Your words were found, and I ate them; your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jer. 15:16). David also experienced this, saying the Word is “more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). When this happens, it brings the soul into communion with the Lord Jesus, the true Word of God, who uses the written Word to draw us closer to Himself.