Genesis 2:9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food.
In response to the temptation to turn stones into bread, Jesus answered, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by the words that come from God.” Bread, or some type of nutrition, is necessary for existence, but life requires more. We live by substances that are beyond the essentials for existence.
In Jesus, we have come to understand that the words of God are not merely black and white scripture. Rather, they are the very character of God. Jesus is the Word of God. We live, not by quoting scripture, but by knowing and following the beauty, wholeness, and compassion that is God. When God created food, He didn’t make a one size, one smell, one taste item. He made different kinds of vegetables and fruits with amazing colors and shapes. Beyond that, God made trees that were pleasing to behold! That is God’s nature!
We engage God’s character as we read the Bible. We see and know His character as we view the beauty of His creation. It is possible to walk through a park and not actually engage the words of God around us. One can look at the sky and not hear the strength of His voice. More than ever, as we wrestle with issues of health, politics, and the complexity of existence, we need life! “Stop and smell the roses” might be a cliché, but it’s good advice. For just a brief moment, disengage from work, from essential matters, from the Internet, and from genuine concerns. Look outside and see His words. Go outside and hear His voice! The life that He has given us is more than bread. He created the birds, the trees, the colors, the sounds. Stop and see! Stop and breathe in His words of life.