Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

Another one of our weaknesses is our stomachs. Food is a vital part of our survival since the nutrients extracted from the food we eat gives life and strength to our bodies. We need to eat to live and to ensure that our systems function properly. I have been in America for the last 8 days and I am amazed at the amount of food consumed by the populous here. It would appear that a large proportion of the population live to eat rather than the other way round. We are reminded by the apostle Paul that we should exercise self-control in our eating and particularly if there are religious connotation associated with our eating habits. So in 1Corinthians 8 he addresses the problem of eating food offered to idols. Here he outlines his case and categorically claims that since idols are man-made, offering food to them is a futile activity. Some people argue that we should not eat meat since Adam and Eve were vegetarians; however Jesus ate fish and lamb! Others argue that we should only eat meat that has been killed in a particular way! The apostle Paul argues that if food is going to be a stumbling block for people to come to know Christ, then he would never eat again (1Cor 8:13). I would suggest as Jesus did, that it is not what goes into the body that defiles it, although too much going into the body will not be processed correctly and hence will collect under the skin as fat, it is what come out of the mouth which defiles or saves an individual. Consequently we are given free reign as to what we eat or don’t eat, but must be very careful about the words that comes out of our mouths. We who know Christ must be disciplined in all aspects of our lives, including out eating habits. And like the psalmist we must ‘let the words of our mouths and the thoughts of our minds be acceptable to the Lord our rock and redeemer!

Today, vet what you eat and what you say. That is, vet what goes in and what comes out. Read 1Corinthians 8 and Psalm 19:14.