"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment." Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
Commitment, Planning & Self-Discipline. These are keys to training - training ourselves physically, spiritually, even mentally! Last week we focused on training ourselves physically. This week, let's consider Scripture and what, when, why and how we eat.
First, I want to reiterate Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." We can train ourselves for godliness and health because we have been set free. Our identity, value and worth are not found in doing or being good, but are found in Jesus' work, which has set us free from sin and death. We are not defined by our choices, but we are defined by Christ - forgiven, redeemed, and righteous because He has given us His righteousness.
Why do you and I eat? God made food so our bodies would be sustained or nourished (1 Cor 6:13). We are to eat so that our bodies can physically accomplish the work to which He has called us. That means choosing foods that are going to provide our bodies with long-term energy. Now, as much as I love coffee, caffeine should not be the fuel my body relies on. Fruits, vegetables, proteins, and foods rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients are best for my body because those all readily provide the body with what is needed to work. Considering the work God has given me, I am not doing a great deal of physical, manual labor - I am chasing toddlers, reading to them, planning schedules, activities, menus, and managing our household cleaning and budgeting (Lord, please help my family!). Highly processed foods that have been stripped of nutrients and pumped full of preservatives that I cannot pronounce are not the best choices. They do provide some energy for my body, but not even close to the same level as foods found closer to their natural state. If you and I are eating to sustain our bodies rather than just to eat, let's think about what foods we can feed ourselves that will truly benefit us! (And I am not advocating certain dietary lifestyles only - if you have food allergies, stay away from those allergens! But not everybody needs to be a vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, organic only, raw, or any other dietary choice in order to truly take care of their body. God has given each of us a brain to learn, discern and exercise wisdom - so exercise wisdom for yourself and anyone else you are responsible for!)
Look at our verses above, Ecclesiastes 2:24-25. Food is to be enjoyed! It is a gift from God meant for your benefit and nourishment, so enjoy the good food that you and/or your family has worked hard for!
Take a few minutes and look up John 6:25-59. Jesus declares that He is the bread of life sent down by His Father in heaven. Whoever trusts in Him will never hunger again but will have life abundantly. Ok, let's be honest, this text plainly read can be confusing, and obviously confused the Jewish leaders. In verse 52 they debate amongst themselves: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Is Jesus promoting some sort of cannibalism?! No!
"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:1-2). Our souls hunger and thirst for something more than we can find on this earth - God has put a hunger in our hearts that only He can satisfy. I think "hunger" and "thirst" are such appropriate terms because I know I typically turn to ice cream & anything chocolate in times when my heart is heavy with worry, concern, anxiety, or depression. My soul is hungry, and food cannot truly satisfy that hunger. The sweetness of the ice cream satisfies my soul for a few brief moments, but that hunger always comes back. It is God alone who satisfies that hunger completely. This is part of training ourselves for godliness - saying no to satisfying that hunger with earthly things (food, alcohol, games, people, sex) and turning to God and believing His promise that He makes through Jesus in John 6. He will satisfy me completely - I can take Him at His word. This satisfaction is not food's job - asking food to fulfill this role will damage your view of food and hurt the good that food is supposed to bring you. Let Christ alone satisfy you.
Father, Thank You for creating food, for making it good and making it good for me. Forgive me for abusing food and making it my satisfaction instead of You. Please help me make better choices when eating. Thank You for promising to satisfy me completely. Help me believe Your promise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Commitment, Planning & Self-Discipline. These are keys to training - training ourselves physically, spiritually, even mentally! Last week we focused on training ourselves physically. This week, let's consider Scripture and what, when, why and how we eat.
First, I want to reiterate Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." We can train ourselves for godliness and health because we have been set free. Our identity, value and worth are not found in doing or being good, but are found in Jesus' work, which has set us free from sin and death. We are not defined by our choices, but we are defined by Christ - forgiven, redeemed, and righteous because He has given us His righteousness.
Why do you and I eat? God made food so our bodies would be sustained or nourished (1 Cor 6:13). We are to eat so that our bodies can physically accomplish the work to which He has called us. That means choosing foods that are going to provide our bodies with long-term energy. Now, as much as I love coffee, caffeine should not be the fuel my body relies on. Fruits, vegetables, proteins, and foods rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients are best for my body because those all readily provide the body with what is needed to work. Considering the work God has given me, I am not doing a great deal of physical, manual labor - I am chasing toddlers, reading to them, planning schedules, activities, menus, and managing our household cleaning and budgeting (Lord, please help my family!). Highly processed foods that have been stripped of nutrients and pumped full of preservatives that I cannot pronounce are not the best choices. They do provide some energy for my body, but not even close to the same level as foods found closer to their natural state. If you and I are eating to sustain our bodies rather than just to eat, let's think about what foods we can feed ourselves that will truly benefit us! (And I am not advocating certain dietary lifestyles only - if you have food allergies, stay away from those allergens! But not everybody needs to be a vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, organic only, raw, or any other dietary choice in order to truly take care of their body. God has given each of us a brain to learn, discern and exercise wisdom - so exercise wisdom for yourself and anyone else you are responsible for!)
Look at our verses above, Ecclesiastes 2:24-25. Food is to be enjoyed! It is a gift from God meant for your benefit and nourishment, so enjoy the good food that you and/or your family has worked hard for!
Take a few minutes and look up John 6:25-59. Jesus declares that He is the bread of life sent down by His Father in heaven. Whoever trusts in Him will never hunger again but will have life abundantly. Ok, let's be honest, this text plainly read can be confusing, and obviously confused the Jewish leaders. In verse 52 they debate amongst themselves: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Is Jesus promoting some sort of cannibalism?! No!
"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:1-2). Our souls hunger and thirst for something more than we can find on this earth - God has put a hunger in our hearts that only He can satisfy. I think "hunger" and "thirst" are such appropriate terms because I know I typically turn to ice cream & anything chocolate in times when my heart is heavy with worry, concern, anxiety, or depression. My soul is hungry, and food cannot truly satisfy that hunger. The sweetness of the ice cream satisfies my soul for a few brief moments, but that hunger always comes back. It is God alone who satisfies that hunger completely. This is part of training ourselves for godliness - saying no to satisfying that hunger with earthly things (food, alcohol, games, people, sex) and turning to God and believing His promise that He makes through Jesus in John 6. He will satisfy me completely - I can take Him at His word. This satisfaction is not food's job - asking food to fulfill this role will damage your view of food and hurt the good that food is supposed to bring you. Let Christ alone satisfy you.
Father, Thank You for creating food, for making it good and making it good for me. Forgive me for abusing food and making it my satisfaction instead of You. Please help me make better choices when eating. Thank You for promising to satisfy me completely. Help me believe Your promise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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