July 3, 2019

An Oldie

Daily Devotional March 24, 2016

The other night, Shannon baked fish for supper. I explained that I was not a vegetarian and that, technically, fish was a form of cauliflower. Shannon was less than sympathetic.

That’s when she decided to have the age old conversation about how much red meat I eat and how I needed to vary my diet so that I’ll live longer.

Telling Shannon that if God didn’t want me to eat cows, he wouldn’t have made them out of meat, didn’t make any headway. So I ate my fish.

Shannon has done this sort of thing before. One time she made a pizza with a crust made from cauliflower. She didn’t confess her sin until I told her the pizza tasted a little off. We are still married but it was close.

Bless her heart. Shannon really does want me to eat healthier so that I can live a robust life in my older years. The thing is, hospitals are filled with healthy people who die anyway.

Did you know that death is the great equalizer? It comes for all of us. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if I eat like me or a normal person. It doesn’t matter how much money I have in the bank, which car I drive, or level of education. One day, I will close my eyes in this world for the last time. But the good news is that when I open them, I will see the face of Jesus. That will be a great day.

However, the other side to that coin is that God does expect to be able to use me in this world to my fullest extent until it is time to go to heaven. God wants the same for all of us. That means that if you eat like me – stop it. Eat a leaf every once in a while. Get a smaller helping of Blue Bell. Order something that grew out of the dirt. Try eating fish (cauliflower).

Because we give ourselves back to God in response to the love he has shown us through Jesus Christ, we are obligated to be good stewards of everything, including our bodies. This means eating better, exercising, getting an appropriate amount of sleep, and never overindulging in those things that are bad for us.

Paul said, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Sadly, I have just talked myself into eating a little healthier. I hope God and Shannon notice.

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, please help me to be a good steward of everything that you have entrusted to me. Give me wisdom, strength and the resolve to live my life in response to your wonderful love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Tom Robbins