I have a fitness app on my phone on which I keep track of my exercise and eating. It gives me access to helpful tips as well, and one of those tips was that if you are actually hungry then you will be willing to eat a piece of fruit or some veggies. It said that if you're unwilling to eat something healthy, then what you are experiencing is not true hunger.
Our small group is studying the Sermon on the Mount. How many times have I read through Matthew chapters five, six and seven and picked out the tasty bits of what Jesus said, but turned my nose up, so to speak, at the tough parts? I really love the part where Jesus tells us to not be anxious and reassures us of His provision and care for us. I even have that part memorized! But, then there's that part where He tells us that anger in our heart towards our brother is equal to murder and must be dealt with swiftly and not harbored. That part was a bit more difficult for me to swallow.
I think there are two things that make the "hard sayings" of Scripture hard for us to swallow. The first one is mentioned in Proverbs 27:7. Our soul is so full on the junk food of this world that we aren't hungry for truth. However, when it comes to God's Word, a truly hungry soul isn't a picky eater. For example, I know a brand new Christian who decided to start in Genesis and read straight through the whole Bible. He doesn't understand it all and has lots of questions, but he is truly gobbling it all down like a man who's starving. The second thing that I believe causes us to reject the "hard sayings" of Scripture is our lack of intimate knowledge of and trust of the Author. When we don't trust God's love, the goodness of His heart, and the kindness of His intentions for us, then we don't trust that when His Word says something difficult for us to swallow, that it is actually for our good. In my opinion, if we are truly spiritually hungry, and if we are truly trusting God, then we will learn to love, not just the sweet, comforting, reassuring parts of God's Word, but even the corrective absolutes that this world and our soul find so distasteful.
still following,
Elizabeth, thank you for sharing the analogy your fitness app has so aptly provided. Praying today that I will take in all of His Word and not be a picky eater (which I was as a kid!). May you have a blessed Sunday!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Joanne!
DeleteYes, Lord, help me this day to devour the parts that are difficult for me to swallow!
ReplyDeleteThis is my prayer also, Julie!
DeleteI think you're right, Elizabeth! I appreciate your thoughts on how our hunger level for the things of God vs. the world and also our level of trust in Him will impact our acceptance and love for ALL of His Word. Considering this tonight!
ReplyDeleteI think you are spot on, sister! May we continue to draw ever closer to the Father, gaining in knowledge, wisdom, and trust every day. Blessings!
ReplyDelete