Deuteronomy 8:3
Yes, he humbled you by letting you go
hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to
both you and your ancestors. He did it to help you realize that food
isn’t everything, and that real life comes by obeying every command of
God.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
You can’t make this stuff
up! I once witnessed a fairly heated discussion at a family dinner
between two “camps” – one that swore that Showboat® pork ‘n beans could
not be beat…and another that insisted that VanCamp’s® pork ‘n beans
were most surely the best! We are a culture obsessed with food…not as
sustenance to fuel our bodies and minds, but as art and entertainment.
We don’t look at a banana and consider how its nutrients and fiber can
make us strong and healthy…we think about how it will taste and whether
it has gotten too ripe for consumption. OR…we envision it slathered
with ice cream, coated in chocolate, or incorporated into muffins, cake
or “quickbread!”
We do not plan our meals based on our true
hunger and nutritional needs…but more often around social events, what
we are “hungry for” at the moment, and which restaurant we have not
patronized this week! We think that we would die without certain
foods…or without eating SOMETHING every few hours. In truth, most of us
would survive far longer without eating than we can imagine. And were
we truly hungry, a lot of “foods” we would never otherwise consider
eating might look pretty tasty!
While I have never fasted…at
least in a spiritual context…I know people who have done this. They
used the time and “energy” that we all pour into thinking about food to
concentrate on prayer, Bible study, and seeking God’s presence in their
lives. While I do not believe this is the right practice for me…I do
not criticize anyone who wants to engage in an occasional Spiritual
fast.
But what I do think we need to do is pay closer notice to
what grabs our attention. We need to “feed” on God’s word…both His
scriptures, and what He tells us and shows us every single day.
Recently, my niece Jasmine said that Zola asked her, “Mom, what are you
doing?” Jasmine told her, “I’m talking to God.” Four-year-old Zola
replied, “Again?!!” Jasmine explained to Zola that we can talk to God
any time, as often as we like/need - even all day if we want!
God’s
nurture and sustenance is unlike any ordinary meal…we can feast on His
provisions night and day! The time has come for us to change our
diet…to focus less on edible nourishment, and more on God’s spiritual
manna. He may not help us choose which pork ‘n beans are best, but He
will supply our needs in every area of real importance. Will this be
the day that you begin to truly feed on a steady regimen of God’s word
and commands? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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