James 1:17-25

            {Prayer}

            Anna was a high-achieving college student who always seemed to have everything under control. But behind all of her achievements, she battled with anorexia nervosa. Each meal became a battle, every calorie a measure of her worth. She thought she could control it, but over time, the control started controlling her.

            One day, her best friend found her passed out in dorm room, the result of a body deprived of the nourishment it needed. Rushed to the hospital, Anna learned quickly that her body was on the verge of shutting down. The doctor’s words were clear … she was spiraling towards destruction. In the months that followed, she realized that the disorder wasn’t just about food … it was a deeper longing for control over her life, one that left her disconnected from the people around her and from herself.

            In a similar way, when we neglect God’s Word and refuse to “feed” our faith, we risk spiritual anorexia. Just as physical anorexia deprives the body of nourishment, spiritual anorexia deprives our faith of its necessary sustenance: God’s Word. We may believe in God’s promises, we may appreciate His Word, but unless we regularly take it in, digesting it and allowing it to truly transform us … we find ourselves spiritual weak and malnourished.

            Jeremiah 15:16 gives us a vivid image of the nourishment that comes from God’s Word. “When your words came I ate them; they were the joy and delight of my life.” Jeremiah didn’t just hear God’s Word, he consumed it. It became a part of him. It was a source of joy and strength. He didn’t allow it to remain external or distant, but made it central to his life.

            The prophet’s words reflect a deep truth about spiritual health. Our souls need the same kind of nourishment that our bodies need to thrive. God’s Word is more than just something we read occasionally. It’s food for our spirits, sustaining us, strengthening us, and shaping us into the people God has called us to be. The apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 2, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (2:2). Just as a newborn baby craves milk for growth, we are called to crave God’s Word as the spiritual nourishment that helps us grow into maturity.

            And this is what the book of James is all about. Growing and maturing in Christ through the nourishment of God’s Word. James teaches us that when we receive and apply God’s Word, we are spiritually nourished, and our faith grows. As we dive into James today, we are reminded that God desires us to grow, to mature, and to bear fruit in our faith.

            This is exactly what James talks about when he says, “He chose to give us birth through the Word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created” (1:18). James points to the new birth we receive through God’s Word. Just as physical nourishment sustains our earthly lives, the Word of truth sustains our spiritual lives, giving us new birth through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The truth of the gospel, the death and resurrection of Jesus, is the ultimate nourishment that sustains us. Through that truth, we are born again and made spiritually alive.

            In this new birth, we are also marked as the “first fruits of all he created,” a sign of the new creation that God is bringing into this world through Christ. This new creation, starting with us as His people, begins with the power of His Word.

            And this is the challenge for us today … to feed on God’s Word, to allow it to shape us and transform us into the image of Christ. Just as a child grows through milk, we grow in our salvation through the nourishment of God’s Word. As we receive it, we are born again, strengthened, equipped to live out the new life He’s given us in Christ.

            Receive God’s Word. “… humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you” (James 1:21). When God’s Word knocks on your door … what do you do? Maybe you do nothing because don’t hear it. Maybe the TV is on and too loud! Maybe you’re distracted by the games on your phone, or by Facebook, X, or Tik Tok. Or maybe when God’s Word knocks you open the door and welcome it in as though the Bible your very best friend.

            The Greek word translated as “accept” is often used in the context of hospitality. In those cases, it means to welcome someone into your home with joy. When we have an opportunity to read and study the Bible, James says to invite it in. Open the door and be like, “Come on in! Sit down and make yourself at home!”

            And James says to do this humbly. Don’t be a know-it-all. It’s okay to admit that you need God’s Word. Be teachable, not unreachable. Proud people have it all figured out, but humble people, humble people welcome God’s Word.

            Receive it and respond to God’s Word. “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). The Greek word behind “listen” is where we get the English word auditor. James says, don’t be an auditor. You know what an auditor is right? It’s not the financial guy. Back in college, to get a refresher so that I would be ready for the next class, I would audit a class. In other words, I would come to class and sit there. I didn’t have to take any notes, I didn’t have to do any of the homework or take any of the tests. My job was to sit back and listen.

            It’s tempting to be auditors with church. We are physically here, but our minds are elsewhere. Our spouse is elbowing us at the slighest nod of a head. Auditors are totally relaxed. They don’t take it seriously. James though says, “Be engaged with God’s Word. Take notes. Pay attention. Get ready for action!” Receive, respond and …

            Reflect on God’s Word. “Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is a like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like” (James 1:23-24).

            James compares the Word of God to a mirror, showing us what we truly look like on the inside. Just as we examine ourselves in a mirror each morning, God’s Word helps us see the truth about ourselves. God Word shows us our sins, our weaknesses, and our need for a Savior. But here’s the good news … when we look into the mirror of God’s Word, we don’t just see our faults, we see Jesus. Jesus, who came to save us from the very imperfections we see. Jesus, who lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, and who then died the death we deserve. His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection bring us forgiveness, healing, and new life.

            And just as a mirror reveals our outer appearance, God’s Word reveals the heart of the Gospel, the good news that in Jesus, we are forgiven, redeemed, and made new. The challenge is not to glance at it and forget it, but to reflect deeply upon it, allowing it to change us.

            The process of reflection is similar to how a cow chews their cud. How they take in the food, chewing it, swallowing it, and chewing it again. We are called to meditate on God’s Word in this way, chewing on it over and over again, and letting it deeply nourish our souls. The Hebrew word for meditation is hagah, which means to chew the cud, emphasizing that we must continually reflect and inwardly digest God’s Word, especially the message of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, to grow spiritually and live out our new identity in Him..       

            And as we reflect, we also research God’s Word. “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom …” (James 1:25). The expression to look intently means to stoop down and gaze in. It’s the same word used to describe John when he arrives at Christ’s tomb in John 20:5. John gazed in. He investigated. He looked around. He studied what he saw. He looked intently.

            And there are so many ways to do this, to dig in and grow in God’s Word.

            Start by receiving God’s Word. Set apart time for morning or mealtime devotions with something like Portals of Prayer or a devotion from your Bible app. Then respond to what you’ve read by journaling your thoughts and prayers, or share what you’ve learned with someone else. Take time to reflect on God’s Word. Meditate on a single verse or passage during a quiet moment, asking “What is God saying to me here?” Guided studies like those on RightNow Media can also help you dig deeper. Finally, research Scripture by joining a Bible study group or engaging in discussions. When you receive, respond, reflect, and research God’s Word, you’ll find yourself gazing into it like John at the empty tomb. Investigating, looking intently, and discovering the treasures God has for you. These practical steps can help you beat spiritual anorexia and grow in Christ.

            As we receive, respond to, reflect on, and research God’s Word, we are feeding our faith and growing in Christ. Just as our physical bodies need nourishment to thrive, our spiritual lives require the sustenance of God’s Word to remain strong and healthy. As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we are not only strengthened for the challenges we face but also shaped into the people God has created us to be, new creations in Christ. This is why James encourages us to humbly accept the Word planted in us, for it has the power to save and transform. So, let us feast on His Word, for it is through His Word that we receive the new birth, new life, and eternal hope that come from knowing Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

            The peace of God, that surpasses all human understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, now and forever. Amen.