“You are what you eat” definitely applies to our spiritual lives. Evaluating what we consume on a daily basis is an effective way of measuring our spiritual growth. The goal is maturity with a balanced spiritual diet. Like a growing child, our needs and preferences go through various stages:
The first stage is “milk only.” Because of their immature digestive systems babies cannot handle anything else. Just like the milk babies drink, spiritual milk is predigested food. Someone else studies God’s word and breaks it down into understandable, applicable truth. When you are a new Christian, just beginning to discover the abundance Jesus has for you, milk is necessary. You get this milk in sermons and reading Christian books. Read 1 Peter 2:2. We all need milk. However, “milk only” does not promote long-term growth.
The next stage is “picky eater.” Once introduced to “real” food, it doesn’t take a child long for personal taste to kick in. Some won’t eat vegetable; some won’t eat meat. We are invited to “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8) However, that doesn’t mean it all necessarily tastes sweet and yummy, but that all of it is good for us. Unfortunately, like picky eaters, we spit out what we don’t like. We like the promises, the blessings, the “feel good” verses and stories, but we don’t want anything that convicts or makes us uncomfortable. A big problem with being a picky eater is we just get pickier and pickier. We no longer get a well-rounded, fully nutritional diet. If Satan cannot get us to avoid God’s word altogether, he will do his best to get us narrow focused and unbalanced. Read 2 Timothy 4:3,4.
Then comes increasingly busy lives that lead to a “fast food” diet with its lure of quick and convenient. Our microwave lifestyle, where we want everything fast and easy, carries over into our studying God’s word. We grab a “snack” and run. We stop long enough to read a verse or two and a quick glass of “milk” in the form of a commentary or short devotion, then rush into the day. Then when life heats up, we wonder why we seem to be running on empty. Our quickie meal often doesn’t carry us through. As an occasional “meal” or supplement, “fast food” is great. But we cannot expect to see significant growth if this is our only intake of God’s words. God’s word is too wonderful to treat like a snack. We miss so much of the feast God has prepared for us. Read 2 Timothy 2:15.
It is time we grow up and eat right. Read Hebrews 5:12-14. Solid food requires chewing. Spiritual chewing is digging deeply into God’s word: studying the Bible and specifically applying the nutritional truth to our lives. There is a wonderful feast of truth, hope, life and joy waiting for us. Eat up! Read Jeremiah 15:16.
Making It Personal
What is “milk” in your spiritual diet?
Do you have a tendency to be on a primarily “milk” diet?
What is the promise of Romans 15:4?
Read 2 Timothy 3:16,17
· Teaches: tells us what should be
· Rebukes: shows us what is wrong
· Corrects: enable us to fix those wrongs
· Trains: helps us keep it from going wrong again.
How can you make these “chewing” questions?
How are you making sure that you are getting a healthy balanced diet of God’s word?
Through the Day Challenge
Your intake of God’s word will provide you with the nutrition you will need throughout the day.
How did Scripture prepare and enable you to face today’s opportunities and challenges?
originally posted 7/3/11
