We Are What We Eat

In many ways, what we eat becomes a part of us and sometimes it shows.

Introduction
We may not become a Big Mac, but what is in the sandwich does effect us in several ways.
As you know, I have always loved to eat, and I have never turned into anything except extremely full, and I have grown and shrunk over the years.
Eating provides the nutrients for the body, and it also takes in the junk.
It is up to us to keep the junk to a minimum.
And we put other things into our bodies that are not good for us, like tobacco and drugs.
Knowingly harming ourselves is a sin, because we are the temple of God.
As you guessed, we are not here to discuss food of that type.
We are here to discuss spiritual matters.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able”,

We Are What We Eat
So what does the statement “I am what I eat” mean?
I believe it means I am what I put into my heart and mind.
If I am putting filth in on a continual basis, I become what I ingest.
Jesus told us the same thing.
Matthew 15:17-20
“Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”
We can do this with anything we are indulging in:
television, Internet, video games, violence, and so on.
Even our family and friends have an effect upon us.
If that is what we are taking in, that may be what we are demonstrating in our lives.
Paul told the Corinthians they were not ready for solid food as they were still living in the world and were still worldly.
He was telling them they were not following God’s commands and they needed to live God’s way and to follow Jesus’ example.
It was time to follow God’s commands. It was time to put spiritual discipline in their lives.
We also need this spiritual discipline today.
Let me tell you about a great meal, the word of God in the Bible.
What a meal for the mind and heart.
The Bible is more than filling, and it has a lifetime of nourishment.
Imagine dining on the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
This is a feast where I want to be what I eat.
This is a nine-course meal that will let me be a mature Christian with the Holy Spirit dwelling inside me, directing my life.
After dining and feeding my heart, mind, and soul on this fare, what I become benefits all I come in contact with and brings glory to God.
Another feast from God’s word can be found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7? “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”
Ahh, I have ingested God’s definition of love.
Whom should I love this way?
According to God, I am to treat everyone this way, even my enemies.
Not only love, but everything that God wants me to be, He has made it known to me through His word, the Bible.
Wow, this stuff is tasty, and it is solid food.
There is a whole Bible filled with information to live by.
There is a whole manual in the Bible on how I can live.
There is a compass and GPS to show me the direction my life should be going.
In fact, everything I need concerning my eternal life and how I should live is given to me (2 Peter 1:3).

Conclusion
So I am what I eat (what I take in).
Just the words “Bible study” and “small group study” sounds boring to some.
If there was a way to become a millionaire, lots of people would attend that seminar and take notes.
How about eternal life, salvation, adventure, drama, romance, poetry, espionage, just to name a few topics in the Bible?
This is a feast waiting to be taken in.

By Carey Scott

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