Bittersweet

This year my wife and I have been blessed with a baby girl named Emmylou. Recently we began experimenting with solid food as opposed to solely milk. Much like myself, she tends to love the sweeter flavors but usually spits out the bitter tasting foods. This may also resemble the life of a Christian as well. We love the sweet tasting will of God when it plays into our interests and liking, but what about the harder, less appealing things we must do as well? Saying “no” to something you know is outside of God’s will for your life is never easy. If I can be honest, sometimes we want to spit God’s will right out of our mouth because it doesn’t taste good or it’s too hard. In the case of Jesus being tempted by Satan, Jesus chose to reject the taste of bread but rather nourish himself on the word of God. I’m sure this was a very difficult decision to make because Jesus had consumed no food for about forty days. When Jesus filled himself up on the word there was no room inside of him for what the devil was trying to fill him with.

Prayer: Lord, please help us to not be picky eaters when it comes to the scriptures. Help us to stomach the difficult things you may be asking us to do according to your word. Strengthen our spirit and give us the strength to move forward boldly and confidently in your name.

(This is from a recent devotional submitted to The Secret Place).