Starving people often have no appetite. Instead of grabbing the food which is offered them, they eat with little enthusiasm. Having had nothing in their stomachs for so long, the victims felt no hunger. They had passed the stage of desiring food. This is typical of many Christians. The Bible doesn’t appeal to them anymore because they have gone without its nourishment for so long. They are suffering from spiritual malnutrition; their yearning for the Lord’s things has almost vanished.
The more you study and meditate upon Scripture, the more your appetite is whetted for its nourishment and sweetness. It becomes sweeter and richer as you feed upon it daily. But the opposite is also true. The less you eat the Word of God, the less you’ll relish its health-giving promises, resulting in spiritual weakness and loss of appetite for God’s Word.
Let us each pray, “Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies” (Psa. 119:3636Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. (Psalm 119:36)). Set a daily pattern of personal Bible study, even if it’s only a few verses. As you obtain spiritual nourishment, your appetite for God’s Word will return, and soon you’ll be looking forward with eager anticipation to those times when you can feast your soul on its satisfying truths.
Anon. (adapted)