A Balanced Diet

 

    Our bodies need a variety of nutrients to operate well.  A diet consisting of only fruit would not be very good for anyone's health -- even though fruit is a delicious and healthy food that God has given us to enjoy and use. A baby may drink only milk for a time, but it needs something more substantial as it grows. As we learn more about how our individual bodies function, we learn how important it is to eat at least something from most of the different food groups. Each one provides essential vitamins, protein, fiber, or cell-building elements that help our bodies operate as God intended. Children tend to have a few select foods that they will eat, but most expand that selection as they grow (some more than others!!). If we are convinced of the vital importance of a certain food, often we can even develop a taste or desire for it that we may not naturally have. 

    This analogy applies to the Word of God. The whole Bible is God's Word and is "profitable for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man {or woman!} of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)  The Bible feeds our soul and our soul needs more than just a couple of verses that we are comfortable with to nourish and grow well. Every verse in the Bible is the Word of God and is alive and powerful, do not get me wrong. We often forget, though, that God provided us with the entire Bible to allow our souls to grow in our knowledge of Him and to strengthen and empower our spiritual bodies in a balanced manner.

    This quote from Oswald Chambers is applicable here:  "The Bible does not thrill. The Bible nourishes. Give time to the reading of the Bible and the recreating effect is as real as that of fresh air physically."  Wow. Do you approach the reading of God's Word as absolutely vital? Without fresh air, our physical bodies would not survive long. The whole Word of God is essential to our spiritual health. 

       There is no right or wrong way here.  Please do not think that I am bashing any certain Bible reading plan or lifting up a different one as "the perfect Bible reading plan." I have just realized that I am guilty of camping out in one section of the Bible and forgetting to include others for far too long.  My goal this year is to spend time in the Old Testament, the  New Testament, the Psalms and Proverbs, throughout each week. As we read the whole Bible we see the beautiful way in which the story of redemption is interwoven throughout each section of Scripture.  

    I know that each New Year, many people make a resolution to begin reading the Bible, only to get discouraged mid-way through Leviticus -- if they make it that far. Again, reading through the Bible is an excellent thing to do!! Do not get me wrong.  But if you find yourself getting bogged down, don't give up!  Move to a different section of Scripture for a short time and come back. Consider taking the more difficult passages a few verses at a time.  Meat takes a while to chew. Not every verse in the Bible is designed for us to gulp down like a milkshake.  Chewing (meditating) is a vital part of digestion. Mix the harder passages with one that is less difficult.  

    Consider reading or listening to the Word at different points in your day. This is another way to include a larger variety of sections from the Bible into your spiritual diet. 

I pray to be more balanced in my intake of the Word this year -- more of it -- lots more!  But diving into passages that I may never have taken a deep look at -- all to discover more of my Savior. Join me?

Soli Deo Gloria!

Heather Sparks