Spiritual Calories

It was announced today that the average American consumes over 3800 calories a day, which just happens to be almost twice what the average body needs for healthy maintenance. We have not only super-sized our fries we have super-sized ourselves. One of the reasons given for this lavish indulgence is the easy availability of prepared foods. As we drive down the road we drive by drive-thrus by the dozen. Ultimately one or more of them catch us.

While contemplating our physical dilemma I pondered our spiritual diet. If we could put a caloric number on spiritual food I wonder how many spiritual calories we would need each day for soul maintenance. When would too much be too much? Can we get too much? Probably, but I doubt if there is a danger of that. It is my guess most of us would come up under nourished because we try to pack in the spiritual calories one day a week and then fast for the next six days.

I am fascinated how often Jesus uses the metaphor of eating while speaking of spiritual things. The first one that comes to mind is the Lord’s Supper where He compares the bread to Himself. That brings to mind His discourse in John 6, which infuriated the religious leadership. He closed with the following marvelous promise. “This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” Verse 58.

Written by Roger Bothwell on October 9, 2002
Spring of Life, 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453