God Provides: Do We Like It?

I hope that Lisa and I did some things right as parents. But, I know we did not accomplish everything we wanted to do in the lives of our boys.

Since their formative years are over, I guess we will never accomplish some things. One thing that we were not diligent enough in doing was teaching our boys how to have a wide range of tastes to eat a balanced diet.

Even in our giving little effort in this area, one of our sons did end up with a willingness to try new things and develop a wide-ranged taste for different foods. Our other son, however, did not. And, when I say “did not,” I mean “DID NOT.”

For 20 years of his life, he ate nothing but chicken. Chicken, that’s it. No beef. No pork. No vegetables (although I guess officially french fries would be a vegetable). No sweets. Nothing. Chicken. And with that, it was chicken strips or chicken nuggets. Not baked chicken. Not grilled chicken. Just fried chicken strips or nuggets with fries. (He has improved…slightly.)

But, maybe he is more Biblical than I realized. For 40 years, the Israelites ate manna. That’s it. Three meals of manna a day. Manna for a midnight snack. Manna for a birthday celebration. Manna, with a side of manna, with manna for dessert. Manna.

Scripture tells us: “The Israelites ate manna for 40 years, until they came to an inhabited land. They ate manna until they reached the border of the land of Canaan” (Exodus 16:35).

If God is going to provide the food for the Israelites for 40 years, I think a valid question is, “Do they like it?” Not liking manna was not an option. Eat manna or starve.

Nothing has changed. For spiritual sustenance, eat what God provides or starve. Every spiritual truth comes from God. He provides every spiritual nutrient for our heart and soul. Not liking it should not be an option for us. If He provides it, we should eat it up. We should savor it. We should crave it. Do you?

God wants to feed you. He wants to provide for your soul. He wants you to experience the Christ who died for you. He wants you to relish the forgiveness of your sin. He wants you to know Him in the fullness of who He is. He does not want you to miss one bite.

Do you come to Him with a hungry heart needing Him to work? Do you come with a thankful heart to receive what He is offering? Or, do you respond: “No, thanks. I don’t like that kind of food”?

Remember, it is not our call to choose the food. It is our chance to consume what He is offering. He knows what we need. Let’s come to Him saying: “Lord, I’m here to eat whatever You have prepared and what You know I need. I won’t be picky.”

(Response or questions? jeff.perkins@mbclife.org)