Day 9: Eat

Biologists generally agree on characteristics that are shared by all living things. For now, let's just consider one of the characteristics, “life requires some ability to intake nutrients used for growth. “If we are God's spiritual sheep, then what “growth” is God intending for us? The answer to this question affects much of how you approach The Bible and your future pursuit of God. If God's highest ideal for our “growth” is knowledge of doctrine, then you probably know how to best study to “grow” as a student. But, what if intellectual knowledge isn't the best God has in store for you? Is there a more important “growth” which God is working toward in our “abundant life?”

John 4:34: Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete His work.” (NET)

Jesus said His food is “to do” not “to learn.” That is a powerful difference! If God was prioritizing our intellectual growth, then we could feed people additional knowledge and build up to the “advanced calculus” of theology. If Jesus is saying our behavior (obedience) is our spiritual nourishment, how does one consume more? What growth does it facilitate? Are there different categories of spiritual food that are more or less potent? Is digestion a simple step or are there multiple steps as in the way sheep ruminate?

Several scriptures speak directly to the appropriateness of milk and/or meat for spiritual growth (1 Corinthians 3, Hebrews chapters 5 and 6, and 1 Peter chapter 2). Look in the following passage for indications of when milk versus meat is preferred.

1 Cor 3:1: So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. In fact, you are still not ready, 3 for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people? (NET)

Consider the symptoms of the Corinthians' “immaturity” (in the last sentence). Would you say they are things they didn't know or behaviors they were doing? Or, are they best described as heart issues? 1 Peter 1:22 might help here. Christ clearly emphasized heart-motives when talking about behavior (Matt 5:17-28, Matt 15:18-19, Mark 7:21-23). It seems to me that these milk/meat passages indicate that some heart-conditions can be viewed as infantile and others as mature (even as we were talking about obedience). In short, the present condition of your heart dictates whether you should focus on milk-obedience or meat-obedience… it's not the condition of your intellect that matters.

Hebrews 6 says one basic thing we need to do is “repent from dead works.” In other words, stop trying to earn reconciliation with God. Obedience isn’t required for birth, it is required for growth. Our food is “to do.” Just visualize a sheep digesting (turning food into nutrients for growth). They must first be in a restful state (resting from “dead works.”)

If you are resting from a reliance on “works” for salvation, you are already taking the first steps toward maturity. Keep taking bites from the word of God. As you meditate on it (chewing the cud), the truth will sink into your heart. When fully digested, your actions will change to reflect your maturing heart...and you'll hunger for more. What does your spiritual diet consist of lately? Be specific if you can.

Why do sheep eat? Yeah, I know, it's a ridiculously simple question. But, it's integral to what God is revealing through these analogies in the Bible...the analogies of sheep, food, and life itself. Indulge me for a moment. Why do sheep eat?

Life In His Presence