Friends,
I want to thank everyone who was kind enough to email me an encouraging word about these little "Minute Messages." If you know someone whom you believe would enjoy receiving this weekly email just send me their address and I'll include them.
Also, if you don't know me I probably received your email address from a friend or relative who thought you would enjoy these emails. I surely hope they were not wrong ;)
Thank you for allowing me to minister to you in this way.
Roland
We have one of those buffet restaurants near where we live. (Our daughter refers to it as “the trough.”) The abundance of food is staggering! My gluttonous appetite gorges on the sugars, fats, carbs and calories. The choices seem to numb my sensibilities and most of the time I truly do “pig out!”
To assuage the “fat” monitor in my brain I am always careful to pay a quick trip to the salad bar and then I speed on over to the meat and potatoes. Knowing the facts about good nutrition doesn’t even slow me down. I’m on a mission: I want that fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy! Why DO they have to make it so tasty? If it just tasted bad then I could conquer this appetite demon and be lean and mean (in a good way).
In a different, yet similar problem, the Apostle Paul laments about this human proclivity to continue making bad choices even though one knows how to make good choices. I don’t mean to spiritualize eating problems but the essence of the argument is basically the same. For instance: I know that I should eat more veggies, less sugar and less fat and carbs but I find myself at the meat carvers table with my plate extended and hearing myself say, “Two slices, please. And make them thick!”
Paul’s answer to the sinning principle is found in his surrender to Jesus. I understand that as it relates to the problem of sinful behavior but it’s hard to make that work in relationship to food when the delicious aromas are filling my nasal cavities and wafting their way to my brain.
The spiritual nature of this dilemma is truly serious and destructive. An undisciplined spiritual appetite will cause one to make bad choices about spiritual matters as surely as an undisciplined physical appetite will cause one to make bad choices relating to diet.
The one will make you overweight and bring health problems - the other will separate you from God and bring eternity problems.
Perhaps my new mantra should be: “Hey, Hey, No Buffet – help me Lord to stay away!!”
I pray you are blessed today.
Warmly, in Christ’s life and love,
Roland Scroggins