Skip to main content

Spiritual Junk Food


Sure, that Egg McMuffin has protein in it. 
Yes, potato is the primary ingredient in potato chips.
Of course, ice cream is made of milk.

*Shocker* Junk food is not all bad. 

No. But it's the trace of good food in it that makes us think we're nourished. It's the same with spiritual junk food- a little biblical truth mixed with additives like selfishness and indulgence and preservatives like relevance and tolerance.  

Like I mentioned in the  previous post, if you leave home spiritually hungry, your spirit will find some junk to eat. Before long we'll find ourselves nodding at a "just believe" bumper sticker or singing "You're one in a million". (Problem- Just believe in what? And if "I'm one in a million", shouldn't I focus on me?) On days like these, I'll catch myself thinking some trial is unfair or complaining "I shouldn't have to..." 

A hardship is like a sudden marathon race for my spirit. Now what I've eaten is put to the test. If life is all about me, then pain is ultimately unbearable. What a contrast to the words Martin Luther penned in "A Mighty Fortress is Our God": 


Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

I'm learning that getting deep, nourishing truth doesn't have to mean reading an entire book of the Bible or even a whole chapter at once. It does mean getting pure, raw truth without additives and preservatives- straight from the Bible. Keep in mind, God's word is always fresh.

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and 
intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 

Ponder this: Is my life more about Jesus or me? What other additives and preservatives can you find in spiritual junk food? (Hint: an additive masks the flavor and a preservative artificially extends shelf-life)



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Beware Of The Eternal Now

Nothing lasts forever, right? Well, nothing earthbound anyway. Of course God is forever. And so is the human soul. But circumstances, life experiences-- good and bad-- are all momentary. We read that   "the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17). But sometimes we feel like we're in a forever moment. No matter how much life moves around us, a specific circumstance may feel like it will never change. These forever moments can be good or bad. I remember getting married the feelings of joy and contentment that immediately followed that I felt wouldn't change. Or when I graduated college, or after having my first child. These moments of joy I wanted to last forever. But hardships come and with them bad forever moments. Like arguments, difficult pregnancies, unemployment, and lost friendships. The longer I live the more I find my forever moments are difficult. I love the line in Laura Story's song ...

Free From Doing Whatever I Want

Often we think freedom is being unshackled to do whatever we want. This is the greatest bondage though. Only in Christ can we be free from doing whatever self desires. To will against oneself is utterly impossible unless the Spirit of God is birthed in us. And when this happens, the war begins. The Spirit against the flesh, the flesh against the spirit-- before the Spirit entered it was simply self reigning. Now there's an adversary to my selfish desires who can conquer me as I can not. Oh praise the Lord for Him, who makes freedom possible, though not comfortable or easy, lest we think we no longer need Him. This breaking of self feels at times as though ripped apart within, tortured between desire and will. Yet the best freedom is within reach-- the abundant life that Christ offers. Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me. Oh if I only lived this way always! To live against selfish desires is to truly love-- only think of it, how much you could serve, how much you co...

Let God Give You Something Heavy To Lift

My six-year-old groans when I give him a gallon of water to carry.  He grunts and struggles, huffs and complains. Finally, he begs me to help. I slip a finger under the container’s handle, carrying most of the weight. Suddenly, he’s walking tall, carrying the jug easily. Dear reader, this is what God does for us. Don’t you want God’s strength in your life? God can’t show Himself strong in your life unless He gives you something heavy to lift. Instead of begging Him take away the hardship, try asking him for strength to carry it. Then when people see you are lifting something so heavy, you can say, “It only looks like I’m carrying this. God’s doing all the lifting.” They will see your life, and glorify God. How awesome is that! “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 Ponder this: The heavier your life, the more strength God will give you. What are you lifting right now?...