A Picky Eater
I don’t really consider myself a “picky eater”. I like most food, but there are some foods I enjoy much more than others. I’m not really “high maintenance” when it comes to food. I grew up eating food that we gathered from the garden. My father-in-law has a really good garden every year and I enjoy the food from there. I will confess that I like to eat meat and vegetables at most every meal. I’m not one to get the vegetable plate at Cracker Barrel!
I came across the restrictions on food that the Lord gave His people when they were first becoming an official nation. They were still at Mt. Sinai where the 10 Commandments were given. He gave them instructions for offerings, and He is now giving instructions for food. Check this out….
44 For I am the Lord your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. So do not defile yourselves with any of these small animals that scurry along the ground. 45 For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy.
46 “These are the instructions regarding land animals, birds, marine creatures, and animals that scurry along the ground. 47 By these instructions you will know what is unclean and clean, and which animals may be eaten and which may not be eaten.” (Leviticus 11:44-47 NLT)
I grew up eating some of the foods that were on the “unclean list”. I love bacon and pork, but this animal didn’t “chew the cud”. Some of the animals on the “clean list” and the “unclean list” are not my favorites. I am definitely not a vegetarian and I’m probably pickier that I appear!
In the New Testament, God appears to have removed all the eating restrictions upon His people when Peter was given a vision of going to the non-Jews with the Gospel of Jesus. God expanded His people to include all peoples of all parts of the world. This makes Jesus’ life and sacrificial death even MORE significant. God made a way through the sacrifice of His Son for all people of all nations to come to Him and become His people. I believe that this is when He relaxed the menu as well. Because of Jesus, the focus is now upon what goes into my heart more than what enters into my mouth. This is what determines what comes out in my speech and behavior.
I am so thankful that God opened up His arms to all people, because that includes me. I am thankful that He has “relaxed the rituals” and works in me through a relationship with me. He speaks into my heart through His Word and through many other ways with the Helper, also known as The Holy Spirit. I’m thankful for His Presence in me to lead me in the things I take into my body through my eyes and ears as well as my mouth! I desire to be Holy to reflect His Presence in me, not so others will think I’m “all that”!
Pressing On!
Dwayne