Health Food

November 28, 2008

By Jerry Scott

Melina, a young woman who works in our office, reminds me frequently about taking care of my physical health. One Christmas she gave me a book, “YOU, the Owner’s Manual,” which outlines the basic principles of healthy living. As a result of getting educated, I do not drink diet sodas or catch a quick burger for lunch very often these days. I have a better understanding that “junk food” is called that for a good reason. Over time I retrained my tastes so that I no longer enjoy a fast-food meal, preferring the complex flavors of a great salad. Now if only I could get myself disciplined to exercise more regularly.

Let me take up Melina’s role and encourage you to consider the nutritional value of what you feed your mind and soul.

As surely as the body will grow diseased when fed a constant diet that is high in fat, sugar, salt and carbohydrates, the soul that is fed a steady diet of TV sit-coms and pop music will not grow deep in the ways of the Lord. I know how easy it is to come home weary from your workday and flip on the TV and let two or three hours go by thoughtlessly. The flow of images and sounds from that box distracts us from the problems of the day or offers us a brief escape into other worlds. And it’s not all bad. Some programs inform us; others teach us. But too many are truly “junk food” that feed us materialism, greed and lust. And you can absorb a lot of harmful “food” in the music you listen to, the books and magazines you read and the Internet sites you visit.

The Scripture urges us to a good diet for the soul so we will know the Truth. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly” (2 Timothy 2:15,16, NIV).

In another metaphor, the Word speaks to the need to mature our understanding. “You need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong” (Hebrews 5:12-14, NLT).

Do you want the ability to be creative? Do you want to really know how to worship the living Lord in a way that goes beyond superficial emotions? Do you want to overcome sin and live a noble and holy life that honors God? Do you want to meet temptation and beat it? Start by choosing to nourish your spirit with good food.

— Jerry D. Scott is senior pastor at Washington (N.J.) Assembly of God.