So we have successfully made it to Summer. Are you like me? In the summer I just don’t want to heat up the kitchen cooking. Its either fire up the barbeque or get take out. I come in from mowing the lawn, all hot and sweaty, and the last thing I want to do is cook. This can lead to many days, then weeks of choosing something fast over the right nutritious foods. And that is so easy, because I love summertime foods like potato salad, and macaroni salad! And of course its so easy to start the meal with a bag of chips or Doritos while the grill is heating up! Throw in some salty dill pickles and add to the fun!
This got me to thinking how easy it is to have an unhealthy spiritual diet. In this world, we as Christians eat a whole lot of junk that the world says tastes really good. The world puts before us entertainment at the movie theater and on our televisions and says to us this is really good…and we eat it up. The world puts before us an internet full of all types of temptations and says to us go ahead and enjoy them. The world says addictions are not a problem; drugs will help you relax and unwind, and yes, even Christian people sit at the table and enjoy them.
It is a struggle not to eat all the tempting things the world puts before us and then tells us to come and eat. And just because it is a struggle, we should not just give up and let the wrong things overtake us; we should challenge ourselves to eat the right spiritual things. And that is precisely what Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:6 when he says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” We need to learn to say no to temptation on a consistent basis. I guess my point is, enjoy all the Summertime junk food in moderation. Throw in some healthy salad and fruit. Eat those fresh garden vegetables.
And additionally, feed yourself with some healthy Word of God. Exercise your spiritual muscles. The Bible tells us 1 Timothy 4:8 :
“Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future.”
Enjoy your summer. Don’t take summer off from getting your spiritual food. Stay in the Word, be an encouragement to others, and we will see you here on Sunday!
It’s good to be your pastor!
In the Lord’s service till the last fish is caught!
Pastor Chris