Spiritual Junk Food
1 Timohty 4
What is the attraction of junk food? We know it is named accurately - junk. We know it is going to make us feel bad after eating it. We know that it is going to have a poor impact on our health. We know it has little to no nutritional value. So what is it that gives us the desire to eat it?
o It is cheap
o It tastes good
o It doesn't take up much of our time
o It is convenient
o It is there when you want it
We can tend to take our religion in the same way. Make it convenient, easy to digest, not a high cost to us, take it or leave it.
Trouble is, treating our faith like junk food takes it down to junk status, and harms more than helps us.
Paul warns Timothy about this. There are people who don't have the stomach for solid teaching. They only want to hear things that make them feel good. As Bobby has often quoted:
"We believe what we want to believe, so we can do what we want to do"
Paul's warning is simple, God is watching. He is ready to judge, so proclaim the message with intensity. Don't quit. Keep your eye on what you are doing, accept the hard times with the good, keep the message alive, Do a thorough job, challenge, urge warn.
Don't be tempted with spiritual junk food. Go after the real thing.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to stand firm. Let your light and truth rule my life. Let my spiritual diet be healthy, and make me strong to follow you.
Amen.
Rob Gibson | Elder
Rob and his wonderful wife Helen were born in England, married in 1987. They moved to the USA in 1996, where they have lived since in California, Massachusetts, and Texas. They have 6 lovely children, Sarah, Claire, Nic, Laura, Jacqueline and Victoria, all of whom were homeschooled. Rob gave his life to the Lord in 1987, at the same time that Helen rededicated herself. Rob has been on a number of mission trips to Costa Rica, has led vacation Bible schools, soccer ministry, small groups, children’s and youth ministry, acted as lead program manager during the Hutto church plant, and is currently Chairman of the board of Directors at Camp Wilderness Ridge. Rob works at the Sears Call Center as Director of the Technical Solutions Group. Helen is an experienced homeschool mom, and is involved in children’s and small group ministry.
2 Timothy 4 The Message (MSG)
4 1-2 I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.
21 Try hard to get here before winter.
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all your friends here send greetings.
More in A Year Through The New Testament
December 31, 2014
So, who wins?December 17, 2014
An Inevitable VictoryDecember 11, 2014
Eternal Realities
Leave a Comment
Comments for this post have been disabled.