“Is This Growing Food?”

Over the holidays I experienced a helpful spiritual analogy. Since a common New Year’s resolution involves eating better, we’ll apply that spiritually.

My grandson looks like, and wants to be like, his Daddy. We were in the car, and I handed him a snack. We’ve come a long way in understanding nutrition, so even his snacks tend to be organic with select ingredients. He took a bite and asked, “Mom, is this growing food?” She let him know it was not. At three, he knows that some foods work to make him big and strong like his father, and though fun to eat, some do not. What a great spiritual analogy as we set our resolutions!

I’m not saying we should never play a computer game, look at social media, watch TV, etc. But much of that is simply snack food, not growing food. It will not necessarily make us more like our Heavenly Father.

But there’s something we can feed on that does work to grow our faith and make us more like Jesus. Jeremiah 15:16 says,

“Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name,

O LORD, God of hosts.”

We feel better spiritually and emotionally when we are feasting on His Word!

It reveals God, and provides what we need to be equipped and complete. It’s living and able to do what can’t be done without it. It’s the seed planted that is able to save and nourish our souls. It works to make us more like Jesus.

Ephesians 5:1 tells us to “…be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Lord, give us a hunger for Your Word that we might truly grow and become more like Jesus!