Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Controlling You and Me

Have you ever looked at the many attempts out there to control your behavior? Of course you have; we are bombarded daily with 'eat this/not that', 'exercise with this thing for at least this much time or you are weak and unmotivated', 'you don't have enough of this thing so take our supplement', and you are probably deficient in a number of other ways curable for the sum of $99.95 per month for the remainder of your miserable life. Paul took aside Timothy, his young disciple, in his first letter and warned him of the things to come. One of them was this very thing we face today: what to eat or not eat.

Paul's fatherly command to Timothy goes against all those attempts to control you and me through diet. "For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer." (1 Tim 4:4-5) This comes from a Jewish man who was born into an extensive dietary law. Peter faced a similar problem until God took him aside and told the reluctant disciple the same thing, "If I say it is good, it is good, and don't you say it ain't, Pete!" (I may have taken some liberties with that quote.)

Taking care of our bodies is blessed by the Lord, but we want to be careful to not let the winds of the world blow us this way and that.

I appreciate all of your condolences yesterday. Christians come together so well when one suffers a tribulation. I am glad and encouraged to be your brother in Christ.

In His love,
Bucky

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