Ezekiel 34:14

I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.

If you have a membership at a country club or golf course, odds are you have played the same course and the same holes from the same tees hundreds of times. Even if we aren’t members at a particular course, we usually play the same set of four or five courses many times throughout the year. Those who don’t play golf don’t understand why someone would play the same game at the same place over and over again.

Non-believers feel the same about a church worship service. “You listen to seemingly the same sermons and the same songs from your same pew every Sunday.” They wonder what good is it? The unchurched are not able to understand the concept of spiritual fulfillment.

The Lord never fails to nourish his people. His provisions are both various and numerous. The church not only provides a place to worship our Savior, but provides the preached word to feed upon. The word of God is so rich, we could feed upon the same verse of scripture many times and discern something different each time.

The food provided by our God is a filling soul food. He offers us both the bread of life which sustains a soul for a lifetime and the full wells from which our joy flows daily.

As stated in the verse above, “there they shall lie in a good fold.” The church is a place of safety, security and growth for the believer. Not only do we survive and sustain by God’s faithful provisions, but we thrive in his “fat pastures.” We are knitted together in love, united by His word, and stirred by the good works of our fellow brothers and sisters. Jesus promised in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

The provisions God’s word and our salvation are rich and anew each day. We have testimony from the past for the day we received salvation, each day we live under his grace and mercy, and also the promised hope of the ultimate salvation when we will abide with Him for eternity. Thus, our salvation fully satisfies and excites us into service each day in a desire to claim His promises and sustenance. It may be from that same old worn Bible, but the Word contained therein is as alive today than it was the day it was written.