So there I was in the grocery store, headed towards the checkout. I had dutifully collected all the “necessary’ items on my wife-supplied list, and having space in the basket and unexplored aisles, I rounded out my purchases with “things I like to eat”.
As I waited my turn in line, I began to notice the types of things I bought. Everything I had chosen, all the items I “wanted”, fell into at least one of the following categories; sweet, salty, fattening, or a combination of those three. There were no vegetables.
I got just convicted enough to notice, but apparently not enough to put anything back. Nor I did not get out of line to get any vegetables.
Vegetables are things I need to eat, but do not necessarily want to eat. Meaning given a choice between something sweet, or fattening, or in any ways tasty, and vegetables…I’m going away from the vegetables.
As a child, I remember the nightly mantra from my parents, “Eat your vegetables, they’re good for you…” I was not moved…and spent many a moment trying to hide or disguise the fact that I had not eaten my vegetables…because they did not taste good.
As a child back then and now as an adult, I prefer what is good to me over what is good for me. If it tastes good, I will eat it. I am not worried about long term effects from eating everything that is sweet, fat or salty.
If you want me to eat vegetables, make them taste sweet or salty. Whatever the vegetable, if you can cook it and serve it with butter, I’m on it. Make them sweet or salty and they are as good as gone.
Apparently I have taken my food tastes over into the realm of the spirit and have turned my nose up at the word of God… at least that is what God showed me. The word is like vegetables. It consists of the basic fundamental elements that define and sustain life.
Vegetables break down to essentially water and vitamins or nutrients. Vegetable allergies are rare, and I never heard of anyone eating too many vegetables. Sweets, salt, and fat, however, are all documented foes of good health.
The Lord showed me how I valued style (taste and flavor) over substance (message and mission) when it came to receiving His word. Whether it was through music, a sermon, or the written word, I wanted what was good to me, instead of what is good for me.
The excitement of a well preached sermon, an unearthly musical talent, or a “new” revelation, can be like a sugar rush. It gets you energized in the moment but lacks the nutrients necessary to sustain life. Giddy on Sunday, then burnt out by Tuesday. In need of another sugar fix…just give me something sweet!
Personal private prayer time, meaningful study of the word, individual devotion, self-examination and honest repentance…these are the vegetables of the Christian diet. They break down into the essential elements that sustain spiritual life.
We need our vegetables, they are good for us. When our taste buds are deprived of junk food flavors, we can learn to appreciate and desire the subtle differences in flavors between vegetables. We can change our tastes, until what is good for us, becomes what is good to us. Eat your vegetables…they really are good for you.
Everyday God... 