When it comes to physical health, I have heard people ask, “Is it starve a cold and feed a fever or is it feed a cold and starve a fever?” It seems that whatever it is can’t be kept straight in the mind. I even had to look it up to find the advice that has been around for centuries is “feed a cold and starve a fever.” However, in my investigation I also found that whether or not this is true is in need of further research, though when sick we do tend to not have much of an appetite.
Speaking generally, we would understand — as someone has noted — “What you feed grows. What you starve dies.” Though we would be quick to understand this regarding physical life, are we giving the connection due consideration regarding our spiritual life? What is it we are feeding or nurturing in our life and what are we refusing to encourage or tend? Are we feeding the fleshly or spiritual appetite? What appears to be more alive in our life and what is dead or dying away?
As Paul urged Christians at Rome to consider themselves “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11), he went on to urge. . .
“(12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. (13) Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (Romans 6:12-13 ESV)
Later on in this same letter Paul exhorted to “make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:14) And in his letter to Christians at Galatia he urged to “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) Therefore, for what are we making provision? What are we feeding to remain alive in our life?
Though there is the physical need of the body to be fed, we must remain mindful of the paramount significance of feeding the spirit. As Jesus stated in responding to the devil, “. . . ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4 ESV)
Those things which would take us away from God and His Will, let us keep as far from them as possible. Let us starve the fleshly inclinations while we feed the spirit. As we continue longing for the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word, we will remain growing up into salvation. (1 Peter 2:2) May we continue feeding the spirit and so become more and more alive to God and dead to sin!
Have a great day ENJOYING THE HEALTH OF A WELL-FED SPIRIT!
Carl
