Explore the connection between food and spirituality, and learn how to eat for God’s glory through this journey of indulgence to spiritual maturity.
From the beginning, God ordained a spiritual connection between food and man’s positive or negative relationship with Him. For example, Adam and Eve would have been taken to the next spiritual level had they chosen to eat from the Tree of Life instead of from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Jesus is the Tree of Life and the True Vine who gives us, and would have given them, eternal life (Revelation 2:7; 22:1-2, 14-15) as well as the true spiritual wisdom they desired when they ate the forbidden fruit.
Likewise, the Israelites were Egyptian slaves, but after God miraculously set them free from bondage, He elevated them by making them a nation. Then He transformed the Levites into priests and instituted the Jews’ new method of worship to include eating for His glory (see Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14). God specifically stated the food restrictions imposed on the Israelites were made so they would “be holy because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45).
Again, God changed the way mankind worshipped and ate when He removed us from the curse of the law and saved Jews and Gentiles alike by grace through faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ. The disciples were elevated to apostles, and God’s Holy Spirit was, and still is, poured out on all flesh who believe in Jesus. It was at this point the Lord told Peter that all foods were declared clean, giving us the spiritual freedom to eat what we want. However, the commandment to eat in a way that reflects His holiness remains. Specifically, 1 Corinthians 10:31 commands “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”.
These examples teach us that eating for God’s glory instead of solely for our physical pleasure is a sign of spiritual maturity. Like children in the natural, you should eventually graduate from spiritual milk to solid food in Christ (1 Peter 2:2; 1 Corinthians 3:2) as your relationship with God deepens and matures. Consequently, it is time to put away the childish things of pizza, fried foods, burgers and fries, cobbler, ice cream and cookies in spiritual obedience to honor God with your body by taking care of the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).If you are ready to grow up and start obeying God’s health and fitness plan for your life, purchase your copies of the Eating as an Act of Worship Workbook and the Eating as an Act of Worship Teacher’s Edition online today at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. In the books, you will learn the biblical principles regarding the body, dieting, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body for the glory of God. Read our weekly blog for motivation to stay healthy and fit through Christ. Follow us daily on Facebook, Threads, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for recipes, and diet and exercise tips. Tune in to our syndicated radio show on iTunes, Spotify, The Narrative Matters, StudioW Buzz Radio Station, and Victory KVDW 100.9 FM, 95.3 FM, and 1530 AM in Little Rock, Arkansas for interviews and health and fitness trends. Lastly, make your tax-deductible donation to Eating as an Act of Worship Ministries at www.eatingasanactofworshipministries.org!
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