GLORIFYING GOD IN WHAT AND HOW YOU EAT
The Christian diet is not about ‘dieting’ at all. I personally don’t believe in diets at all. ‘Diet’ is used in the title of this article because that is one of the main words used when it comes to healthy eating. Here, I am concerned with discussing what God has to say about what and how you eat.
“By embracing moderation, gratitude, and balance in our eating habits, we not only honor our bodies but also strengthen our spiritual health with the food we consume.”—Corine Williams, Ph.D.
In the Old Testament, in Leviticus chapter 11, the Bible informs us of the foods permitted, forbidden, and unclean animals. Later, in the New Testament in Mark 7:18-20 (NKJV), Jesus says ’…Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from the outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?’ And He said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.’ To defile is to make unclean or impure. Jesus was declaring that true uncleanness (corruption or desecration) comes from an impure heart and the sin it produces. It does not come by violating the law of eating forbidden foods from the Old Testament. Paul tells us in Romans 10:4 (NKJV) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. You can eat whatever you choose, but you are sadly mistaken if you think eating according to the Old Testament will make you acceptable in God’s sight. No kind of human effort will EVER take the place of the righteousness God offers you when you choose to live by faith in Jesus Christ. If you compare maintaining the law to the power of Christ, the law is weak, ineffective, and powerless to save you.
Please understand that Jesus did not come to do away with the law. He came to implement what was written in the law years earlier in the Old Testament. Matthew 5:17-19 (NIV) tells us “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
If Jesus did not come to abolish the law, does that mean you are in sin if you do not eat strictly according to the laws of the Old Testament? The Bible says Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? By no means! Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. (Romans 6:8, 11, 14-15; 3:31 NIV) As a Christian you are no longer ‘under the law’. Christ has paid your sin debt, and you are living under grace. Grace is a special favor or act of kindness you DO NOT DESERVE.
Romans 8:1 (NIV) says Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross you were freed from the condemnation of sin. This means you will not be stoned or punished for violating the law and eating bacon or shrimp. However, the law is still relevant. It guides your conduct as a Christian to help you live the full, victorious life Jesus died to give you. The Bible says “My son, do not forget My law, but let your heart keep My commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. As one who is in the Lord Jesus. I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men” (Proverbs 3:1-2 NKJV, Romans 14:14,17-18 NIV). God’s moral laws, such as the Ten Commandments, are direct commandments and God expects strict obedience. You WILL NEED to call on the power of the Holy Spirit to meet God’s moral demands.
In the end, God is most concerned with the condition of your heart and your relationship with Him, not your choice of foods. Jesus sums up the law in Matthew 22:37-40 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
At this point, I hope you can clearly see the role of God’s dietary restrictions in your life. While there is no condemnation for eating unhealthy foods, there are consequences. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 (NIV) “Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food – but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” As a believer, you were once a slave to sin, but now you live in freedom through Christ. God allows you to freely enjoy any and everything that comes from Him. You want to be careful not to let your flesh cause you to abuse this freedom. Proverbs 30:18 (NLT) tells us When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy. Unhealthy eating can lead to health problems, such as, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol just to name a few. You have to walk in the Spirit to ensure your flesh does not give in to temptation. The Bible tells us that one of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV) says But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. I hope you know and understand that it is not just will power, but His power-the Holy Spirit, which is needed help you control your eating.
Protecting your body with food, exercise, and rest is a way of expressing gratitude to God for the gift of your body.—The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional
“It is fundamentally about reverence for our Creator. Every time we choose to eat healthily, to exercise, to rest, we are essentially saying, ‘Thank you, God, for this incredible body You have given me. I want to honor You by taking the best care of it that I can.'”—Marisa D’Amore
While what you eat should be monitored, God is more concerned with how much you eat. Your ability to control your eating habits can be an analogy of your ability to control yourself. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) says … we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. If you can’t control your appetite for food you probably (unfortunately) can’t control your appetites for more destructive habits (selfishness, pride, your temper, lust, greed, gossip, covetousness). As a Christian, you are called to a higher standard. You represent the Most High. God loves you, and He wants you to call on Him in your times of weakness. Philippians 3:19-21, 4:1 (NIV) says Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! Keep your eye on the Shepherd and you will never be a lost lamb. God wants to make you spiritually better, stronger, and wiser each day. As your character is developed and you begin to gain victory after victory, NEVER forget who gave you those victories. Make sure you tell EVERYONE about the One who gave you those victories so they will see His MAGNIFICENCE displayed in your life. He gets the glory, and you get the joy and the blessing of Living the Victory.
Go Live The Victory!
