Aug 04

Not By Bread Alone

Many fast food establishments in the world operate a franchise system, a concept that is very common in the industry. A parent company, such as McDonald’s or Mr. KFC, could permit its franchisees to operate branded restaurants in exchange for a franchise fee or a share of the revenue.

Franchisees are supplied with uniform ingredients by the parent company or its suppliers and are typically obliged to follow strict operational guidelines. Though many busy people take their meals regularly in fast food restaurants, there is a growing concern that fast foods may not be healthy to the body after all.

 

The Law of clean and unclean food, found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, was in force long before Moses. Abel was a keeper of sheep, not of pigs (Genesis 4:1-5).

Jabal, of the line of Cain, specialized in raising cattle (Genesis 4:20). Noah was told to take unclean animals into the ark by twos, but clean animals by sevens (Genesis 7:1-3). After a safe arrival on Mount Ararat, Noah built an altar upon which he sacrificed every clean animal and clean fowl.

“And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray” (Leviticus 11:13).

From the Old Testament law, any warm-blooded mammal which had split hooves and chewed the cud was clean to eat. Other warm-blooded animals were considered unclean. Of the creatures that live in the waters, only the fish with fins and scales, were clean to eat; others were unclean.

God did not permit the eating of the flesh of fowls which were scavengers. All reptiles were unclean, as were all insects except locusts, grasshoppers and certain beetles.

 

Under the New Testament economy, the believer is set free from all the ceremonial, ritualistic laws and observances. However, he should be careful not to eat the type of food that can cause or promote illnesses and diseases.

Neither must he stretch his liberty to eat foods whose consumption might compromise the faith of others. In sum, a Christian must not live by bread or meat alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Remember, you are what you eat.

 

***Share your thoughts and what you’ve just learnt in the comments section below. DON’T FORGET TO SHARE

Aug 03

Jesus’ Teaching On Adultery

Latimer was raised to the bishopric of Worcester in the reign of Henry VIII. It was the custom of those days for each of the bishops to make presents to the king on New Year’s Day. Latimer went with the rest of his brethren to make the usual offering; but, instead of a purse of gold, he presented the king with a New Testament in which was a leaf doubled down to this passage, “Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

 

Christ’s Sermon on the Mount is one of the most well-known passages in the entire Bible. Many of its expressions are commonly used in everyday speech, often without people being aware of their biblical origins. Most people do not have trouble understanding the Sermon on the Mount.

This is because most of it is relatively straightforward, even for unbelievers, who may admire the general principles laid down therein, including love, non-retaliation, peace-making, kindness, and the Golden Rule.

However, many people do find this passage on adultery and prohibition of divorce for whatever reasons extremely difficult because they do not think they can live-up to the standard that Jesus set.

 

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

Jesus said that adultery originates in the heart and is completed by acting upon that desire. Jesus did not say the Old Testament law against adultery was superseded, outdated, inapplicable or impossible to keep today. In fact, a few verses earlier, He stressed that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfil it.

Therefore, with a graphic metaphor, Jesus illustrated exactly how His listeners were to obey God in this area.

 

Sin is deadly, and believers should remove themselves from any situation where they might be tempted. If there is anything in your life that causes you to lust, or tempts you to consider indulging in any extra-marital activity, remove it from your life with a grim determination.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Escape sin rather than excuse it.

 

***Share your thoughts and what you’ve just learnt in the comments section below. DON’T FORGET TO SHARE

 

Aug 01

Most Dependable companion

Nowadays, it is almost becoming difficult to have a dependable companion. Cases abound of people tricking their friends to be kidnapped for ransom. Some give up even their blood relations for money. Security has broken down in many countries, particularly in developing nations, so much that life is almost meaningless. And justice is a mirage.

 

Newspapers and electronic media inundate our ears and eyes with horrible news on a daily basis. There’s no comforting news anywhere. But the Psalmist tells us that the law of the Lord offers that hope. Reading and depending on it reassures the believer of the ever-present God to offer the desired help.

 

The Psalmist here acknowledges the efficacy of the word of God and of all His counsels. He also acknowledges the unchangeableness of the almighty God with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning. “Thy word” by which the heavens were made, “is settled,” producing as evidence, the constancy of the course of nature.

The abiding faithfulness of the Creator from generations past till eternity lends more credence to the durability and reliability of His word. He said, “I am God, I change not” (Malachi 3:6). So also are His words. “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.”

 

This eternal quality is not subject in anyway to the elements of nature. The Psalmist ever found solace in the powerful influence of the word in his affliction, as it gave him delight in solitude and sorrow. The word of the Lord is a pleasant companion at all times.

The best evidence of our love for the word of God is never to forget it. David said: “I have sought thy precepts,” even in the midst of enemies and conspiracies against him. He confessed, “I will consider thy testimonies.”

 

The more of His word you have in you, the more His abiding presence is assured. We should, therefore, consciously endeavor to store more of His word in our hearts.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A man is vulnerable when he forsakes God’s law.

 

***Share your thoughts and what you’ve just learnt in the comments section below. Don’t forget to SHARE!