Spiritual Foodies

I know several people who are what are called today “Foodies.” They not only like food, but they like exploring it. It’s not just that they are hungry, they enjoy the whole experience – the recipes, choosing the ingredients, prepping and cooking, sharing the dining experience with others, and critiquing everything afterwards. So, what do you think a spiritual foodie would be like?

Interest. Spiritual foodies would show more interest in God’s word than physical things. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “It is written, ’Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). They, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word…” (1 Pe 2:2). They would see Jesus as the “bread of life” (Jn 6:35) – the food that keeps them alive. Jesus and His word would be the center of their diet, surpassing other words, media, and entertainment. We would notice this interest since they would be involved in it and talking about it a lot!

Enjoyment. Spiritual foodies would actually enjoy consuming (reading, learning, hearing, understanding, applying) God’s word. In the words of Psalm 119:103, they would say, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” You don’t have to tell foodies to pay attention to their food and savor their meals. Spiritual foodies would welcome and enjoy spiritual feasts.

Ingredients. Spiritual foodies would care about more than just personally liking something – they would care about what’s in it (is real, is it true?). They would crave the “pure milk of the word” (pure means “undefiled” or “unpolluted”). Interest is in the “fruit of the Spirit” (Ga 5:22-23), and they would test it to make sure it is good (1 Th 5:21).

Expanding the Menu. Spiritual foodies, although staying in God’s word, would not be content to just drink the milk of the word, but would want to grow and expand their menu to include solid food (He 5:12-14). We would expect them to want to grow more and more, exploring all that God has to offer.

There are many food and drink, eating and drinking metaphors in the Bible for learning from God’s word and having a relationship with Him. We understand eating and drinking. We know how vital it is to our survival, well-being, and growth. And eating isn’t just about survival – it can be enjoyable, with so many things to taste and share. The same can be true about God’s word and our fellowship with God. Will you try it? Will you become a spiritual foodie?

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” Psalm 34:8

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