Eating habits and small bites, a new way of consuming Scripture
By Dean Collins
Have you ever noticed how every person has their own style of eating? I try not to stare at anyone when we are dining together, but some of us display some uniqueness in our food consumption.
Some insist on not mixing any of the food on their plates, while others are prone to see the whole plate as a stew of some sort, a platform for mixing everything together. Some eat dessert first, and others eat it last, if at all. I have a peculiarity concerning French fries. I eat all of them first before I touch my sandwich or coleslaw. I like my fries hot to warm and never cold!
Some people eat several small meals a day. Two different individuals have told me they eat just one meal per day, now that they’re in their 80s. But many readers are committed to their three-square-meals plan. Of course, in many places there are no options. For them, food is all about survival. Our brothers and sisters in many places long for assurance that they can find food somehow and somewhere. Their prayers for food rely on God alone and our willingness to participate as vessels for God to meet those needs.
Spiritual consumption
I got to thinking about all of this and how it relates to our spiritual consumption and in particular how we read Scripture. I wonder what habits good or bad we might have compared to our food intake. For instance, do you take your Bible reading once a day or in small bites throughout the day? Do you have a bias toward familiar passages, just the Gospels or Psalms, or do you like a sampling from the Law, the prophets, the poetry, the Gospels, and the epistles?
We know there are many different types of cuisines. And schedule and lifestyle may reveal whether we consume food quickly and out of necessity or whether we savor every bite. What about Scripture? Do we read quickly to check the box that we did it, or do we pause to let it sink in?
Small bites
Sometimes when I read I like to take a passage in small bites, even separating thoughts and sentences visually so I can consider each and let the Holy Spirit bring direction and correction.
Today I read Psalm 112. I have taken the liberty to separate the passage from the typical verse and paragraph structure. I invite you to read it this way and note how the Holy Spirit might guide your thoughts as you praise the Lord and consider his message today!
Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who
fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.
The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!
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