Spiritual Digestion
There is an interesting concept when you look at verses in scripture, and then to play with them in light of our title. Hebrews 5:12-14 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” 1 Peter 2:2-5 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious. To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”
Romans 8:4-15 “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Now back to this verse which seems to sum up everything for us, John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.” Now when Jesus was living amongst us, this verse in Matthew was not an uncommon occurrence, Matthew 14:17-19 “And they say unto him, we have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to [his] disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” This “Blessing” of physical food occurs regularly, and we have this in Acts 2:46 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” We have the Road to Emmaus, Last Supper, and so many occurrences of “Blessing physical food,” but the pun is “you eat physical food until you die,” then eternity at the Resurrection Morning, but which resurrection? The Flesh is unto the Resurrection to face Eternal Death, but living in the Spirit with “Spiritual Digestion,” you have the Resurrection unto life Eternal, so are you Carnal or Spiritual?
So if Physical food, feeds a Physical Body, then who feeds us with “Spiritual Food,” and will it then give us “Spiritual Indigestion” or have you even developed “Spiritual Digestion?” Back to a portion of a verse above, “God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.” This in our “Play on Concepts,” asks us about our “Spiritual Digestive System.” We were born with a “Physical Digestive System,” and eating physical food is easy, munch, lunch and be healthy and strong, but can you digest “Spiritual Food?” If you have none, or a weak, spiritual digestive system, then any and all spiritual food brings you no health and benefit, you will just fade away and die, eternal death, as God and the Holy Spirit are “Spirit,” so you critically need spiritual digestion for you to be able to live in “Eternity.” Our first verses showed the early believers as “Babies,” in that their spiritual digestive system was very very basic, and “The Milk of the Word,” was about all that they could handle, but they were admonished to continue their growth and development, but Paul was wondering as to why they had not advanced in their Christian walk. 1 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and forever. Amen.”
Paul was wondering about their meagre growth, as he felt that “Steak Sandwiches” or “The Meat of the Word,” something solid and heavy like, Eternity, Heaven, Faith, Grace, Prophecy, Cities of Refuge, deep delving into scripture and advanced heavenly concepts, was obviously missing, they just appeared to have just minimal or miniscule “Spiritual Digestion,” heavy “Meat of the Word,” was just indigestible for them. So how well developed is your “Spiritual Digestion?”
Prayer:
Dear Jesus; Please can you Bless my Physical food today, so that I will be Healthy and Well to work for you today.
Dear Mr. Holy Spirit Sir; Please can you help me to develop more “Spiritual Digestion,” so that I can feast on the bounties of Spiritual Food you bring me. Please can you tutor me, teach me, lead and guide me in the paths of Holiness, so that I can digest the “Spiritual things you bring me.” Please grow my “Spirituality.” Thank you for everything, in the Name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
