Take and Eat --
-- a Christian Devotional on spiritual growth.
By Debra Torres
The doting grandmother handed the boy a sweet and watched him toddle off.
“It’s candy,” she told him, “you can eat it.”
Doubtful, the boy clutched the brightly colored piece in his hand, not daring to bring it to his mouth.
The grandmother looked up at the boy’s father and smiled. “He doesn’t know what it is,” she said.
His dad took the candy, gently took a small bite and handed it back to the boy.
Gladly, the boy took his own bite then and after that toddled off downing one after the other.
I was at a sporting event watching this scene and after it I began to mull over what a great analogy it was for our Christian walk.
So many times we shy away from things that seem different or strange, don’t we? But when someone we know and love “takes the first bite,” we’re more apt to give it a try.
The doting grandmother handed the boy a sweet and watched him toddle off.
“It’s candy,” she told him, “you can eat it.”
Doubtful, the boy clutched the brightly colored piece in his hand, not daring to bring it to his mouth.
The grandmother looked up at the boy’s father and smiled. “He doesn’t know what it is,” she said.
His dad took the candy, gently took a small bite and handed it back to the boy.
Gladly, the boy took his own bite then and after that toddled off downing one after the other.
I was at a sporting event watching this scene and after it I began to mull over what a great analogy it was for our Christian walk.
So many times we shy away from things that seem different or strange, don’t we? But when someone we know and love “takes the first bite,” we’re more apt to give it a try.
My mother is one of the pickiest eaters in the world. She has a small range of foods she likes and getting her to try something new is like pulling teeth.
When I was a girl, my dad and I wanted to try a restaurant that didn’t serve hamburgers or spaghetti, so we did something a little different. I don’t remember if we were looking to try out Chinese or seafood, but I do remember leaving my mother and brother at some fast food place along the way.
There probably wasn’t one thing on our menus that my mom would have eaten, so I guess this was our way of keeping everybody happy on this not so close-knit family outing.
When I was a girl, my dad and I wanted to try a restaurant that didn’t serve hamburgers or spaghetti, so we did something a little different. I don’t remember if we were looking to try out Chinese or seafood, but I do remember leaving my mother and brother at some fast food place along the way.
There probably wasn’t one thing on our menus that my mom would have eaten, so I guess this was our way of keeping everybody happy on this not so close-knit family outing.
Trying something new can be difficult for some when it comes to food, but when it comes to changing up our faith walk, it can be even harder.
The Apostle Paul complained about Christians who were acting like little babies. They only wanted to drink “milk” and were unwilling to take on the “solid meat” or deeper knowledge of God.
We all can be like that can’t we? Milk is good right? Its flavor and consistency are predictable and easy to digest. But what if God plops a gooey Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich on our plate oozing with provolone?
“It’s good,” he says, “take and eat.”
But it doesn’t smell like milk, right? And it certainly doesn’t look like anything we’re used to. So, we go ahead and pass.
Those of you who love Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches know what the rest of us are missing right?
The Apostle Paul complained about Christians who were acting like little babies. They only wanted to drink “milk” and were unwilling to take on the “solid meat” or deeper knowledge of God.
We all can be like that can’t we? Milk is good right? Its flavor and consistency are predictable and easy to digest. But what if God plops a gooey Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich on our plate oozing with provolone?
“It’s good,” he says, “take and eat.”
But it doesn’t smell like milk, right? And it certainly doesn’t look like anything we’re used to. So, we go ahead and pass.
Those of you who love Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches know what the rest of us are missing right?
Thinking back over my own walk with God, I see three distinct faces of friends who, at different seasons in my life, played major roles in encouraging me to “take and eat.” And each time I did, I grew in my knowledge of God and received some major boosts in my faith walk.
Without these friends, I may not have dug deeper into my faith nor explored God’s Word more thoroughly. And without them, I might not have been able to embrace the freedom in Christ that I now enjoy.
To Laurie, Rena and Angela … I’m forever grateful.
We’re all familiar with the scene of the Last Supper. It was in a borrowed room at a table for thirteen and there was some pretty intense conversation going on.
Thanking God for the bread, Jesus broke it and passed it out to the others.
“Take and eat,” he said, “this is my body.”
It must have been strange to hear that for the first time. And, I’m guessing that the disciples may have looked at each other to see who would take the first bite.
God bless the one who did.
A few autumns ago, our family took grandma to our county fall festival that was packed with all kinds of carny food. My daughter and I have recently grown attached to the crunch and bite of the deep-friend pickle, and it was my goal that day to get my mom to try it.
With some coaxing from all of us … my mom relented and dared to take a bite! I would have never guessed that my mom would have tried something like that.
But then again, she had watched us eat some first.
Without these friends, I may not have dug deeper into my faith nor explored God’s Word more thoroughly. And without them, I might not have been able to embrace the freedom in Christ that I now enjoy.
To Laurie, Rena and Angela … I’m forever grateful.
We’re all familiar with the scene of the Last Supper. It was in a borrowed room at a table for thirteen and there was some pretty intense conversation going on.
Thanking God for the bread, Jesus broke it and passed it out to the others.
“Take and eat,” he said, “this is my body.”
It must have been strange to hear that for the first time. And, I’m guessing that the disciples may have looked at each other to see who would take the first bite.
God bless the one who did.
A few autumns ago, our family took grandma to our county fall festival that was packed with all kinds of carny food. My daughter and I have recently grown attached to the crunch and bite of the deep-friend pickle, and it was my goal that day to get my mom to try it.
With some coaxing from all of us … my mom relented and dared to take a bite! I would have never guessed that my mom would have tried something like that.
But then again, she had watched us eat some first.
Here are some Bible verses that'll help you on your journey:
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 New Living Translation
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,
Hebrews 5:11-14 New International Version 1984
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Philippians 4:8-9 New International Version 1984
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 New Living Translation
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,
Hebrews 5:11-14 New International Version 1984
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Philippians 4:8-9 New International Version 1984
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.