Learn to Feed Yourself

Black Lab
courtesy photobucket.com

Have you ever done something that was so embarrassing that you certainly did not want to share it with your neighbors? I am not speaking about doing something sinful but just something too silly to advertise! I’ll get back to that thought in just a minute!

In the early days mothers did not have Gerber’s and other baby foods so they utilized unique methods to nourish their growing babies. Often it was the grandmother who would first chew the baby’s food and then feed it to him. As the child grew he would hopefully learn to feed himself.

I can remember many times as a child I did not want to eat what was put before me. Mother would often play a little game called “Airplane” and the spoon would find its way to the “Airport.” The bottom line was that moms did whatever it took to keep their families healthy! For the most part these days they still do.

Now - - - my embarrassing confession. We have three spoiled dogs. One is a pig by nature and eats every thing in sight including the dog food meant for the other two dogs. When I discovered what was happening, I decided to ensure that my 5-year-old Labrador received his own can of special food. I took the spoon that I had used to scoop out the food and began to feed him by playing the game “Airplane.” You might say that this special attention became a favorite game with him and he doted on the spoiling. Sadly it has come to the point that he will barely eat his dinner unless I feed him!!

It occurred to me that many Christians enjoy the Word of God, but only after it has been chewed and spoon fed to them. Others will not “eat” the Word of God, unless a game is played to stimulate their appetite.

Justifiably for the children in Sunday school who are just beginning to learn to “feed” themselves certain methods of motivation and training are necessary. They need the Bible Stories and the lessons in down-to-earth everyday examples so they can understand what God is saying to them. Hopefully as they begin to read and study they will learn to nourish themselves.

I am not against devotional books and Christian magazines, as I enjoy several. However they are not a substitute for the actual Bible which is God’s word to us.

May I encourage you to dust off your Bible and begin today to read through the New Testament? A chapter at a time is a good way to start. Some study Bibles have “helps” to explain the scriptures. The “helps” will suggest verses to follow along the same theme and the Holy Spirit is also right there to guide. When Christians become skilled at handling not just the milk of the Word, they will profit spiritually. It will be like adding meat to the diet. The good news is when you learn to feed yourself you will become spiritually healthy and fit just the way God planned.

I Corinthians 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

This post is linked with Ann Kroeker’s  Food on Fridays   

Do visit her site and gather up some delicious and nutritious recipes