A Day-by-day devotional

March 8, 2023

Fast food

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Numbers 28-30

Scripture of the Day: Hebrews 5:12-14

Ever have one of those days when you desperately crave for some burger and fries? Just the thought of a juicy burger and crispy hot fries will set your olfactory nerves to smelling something that’s not actually in front of you.

Whether we admit it or not, most of us consider fast food as comfort food. It’s easy, fast and delicious. What it lacks though, is proper nutritional value. Fast food may leave us full and satisfied. It might fire up our taste buds and gratify our stomachs. Yet, if we subsist on it more than we ought to, our health may suffer in the end.

Likewise, if we feed on spiritual food that is satisfying to the ears but void of appropriate nourishment to the soul, we will end up obese with the “feel good“ stuff, but malnourished in what would actually make us grow. When we consume a lot of spiritual fast food without keeping what comes into our hearts in check, before we know it, our spiritual health already requires treatment.

The books that we read, the sermons that we listen to, the preachers that we watch and follow all require careful consideration. We have to ask ourselves: what are we feeding ourselves with? Are they a well-rounded, healthy meal? Or just some fast food to tickle our fancy? We may get momentary high when we subscribe to them. But how long would that last? Will the food we partake bring good nourishment to our soul and spirit? Or are they just temporary comfort food to curb our cravings?

Choose wisely. Use discernment. Do not settle for fast food. Healthy spiritual food may sometimes be hard to chew; but you will definitely get nourished.

Reflection: Sometimes, it is not just the obviously unhealthy reading materials and mass media that could destroy our spiritual health. Even those that claim to be and are branded and tagged as “Christian“ could be unhealthy. If it is not sound doctrine that it being taught or preached, if it is flawed theology covered up by flashy and eloquent speech, beware. The enemy disguises himself as angel of light.

Prayer: Lord, please help me discern if what I feed myself is healthy spiritual food. Keep me away from spiritual fast food that feels satisfying but lack the fundamental nourishing truth that my spirit needs. Amen.