October 2 True Food

October 2

True Food

2 Kings 4:38-41 And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, "Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets." 39 One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. 40 And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it. 41 He said, "Then bring flour." And he threw it into the pot and said, "Pour some out for the men, that they may eat." And there was no harm in the pot.

IN Miracle Number Eight God does through Elisha, we can see an illustration of God's grace to save us from our harmful, even deadly imperfections.

     Hungry men have caused the stew to be poisonous because they carelessly gathered wild gourds "not knowing what they were". We're like that, aren't we? We are hungry for certain things, perhaps material wealth, maybe relationships, possibly quiet in our house and many more things. In such emotional hunger we can be careless with what we gather. We are willing to feed our loneliness, for example, with harmful relationships or habits. We cure our hunger for rest by skipping Sunday worship. Or are you hungry for affirmation? Then be careful who feeds you affirming words. Whose interests do they have in mind?

     Feeding our emotional needs outside of God's true words may seem tasty for a time. It could be an easy gathering of what looks tasty. You might have fun. And you may even feel full for a time. But when it is not right with God, a bad taste will come to your soul. You will know it is wrong for you. Invariably, another deep hunger will form in you. It is the hunger for a lasting and true peace with God.

     What do you do then? Jesus has the answer. He said in Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." He is urging us on to eat from his "stew" of truth that it will nourish your heart, mind and soul to live right with God.

     As the good flour in the stew, fill your soul with the "flour" of God's righteousness. Knowing what tastes right, you will know what tastes wrong. Gather and store up the good. Throw away the bad.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, fill me with your righteousness, that I will be satisfied in you and you alone. In Jesus' name, amen.