The Thrill Of Feeding Yourself

Wednesday, February 13, 2002

You probably don't think it's any big deal that you can turn over by yourself or burp yourself or feed yourself. But it's a big deal when our new grandson starts doing some of those things for the first time. That's a milestone! The other day our daughter called and said, "I wish you could see him now - he's feeding himself Cheerios!" There was dancing in the streets. See, the little guy has been studying his hand for months, flexing those fingers, eventually trying to grab available targets like noses and glasses. But now he's really got it together. He's sitting in a high chair with Cheerios on the tray - and he's reaching for one of those O's, wrapping his fingers around it, and putting it in his mouth - all by himself! And then he smiles and laughs real big. What a guy!

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Thrill Of Feeding Yourself."

All of us grownup types know what a big deal the accomplishment of being able to finally feed yourself really is. We know this is the beginning of lots and lots of times he will do that in his life! He's moved from needing someone else to feed him to be able to feed himself. God is wishing some of us would get to that point.

Too many of us depend way too much on getting fed spiritually by someone else. We're living on that nourishment given to us by someone on Christian radio, Christian TV, on a pastor or youth leader or Bible study leader's lessons, on Christian concerts and conferences and retreats. And that's all good stuff. But if you've known Jesus for very long, what others feed you should be supplemental to what you're getting directly from God and His Word.

It's OK for a baby to be fed by someone else in his early days - and many new followers of Jesus are really dependent on an older Christian feeding them spiritually. But just like with our grandson, it shouldn't always be that way! Many people who have belonged to Jesus for many years are still babies when it comes to feeding themselves. It's time now to take this big step toward growing up in God.

You want to be able to get most of what you need spiritually directly from God Himself, especially as He speaks to you personally through His Word, the Bible. You need to know that if you were marooned on an island, and cut off from every Christian you know and Christian meeting you attend, that you would be fine spiritually as long as you've got your Bible As you sit there with God's words in your lap, there's a special prayer you need to pray. It's in Psalm 119:17-18, our word for today from the Word of God. David says it this way: "I will obey Your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law." This is going direct, without anyone between you and God. You ask God to open your eyes to help you see some wonderful things in His Book. Feeding yourself spiritually begins when you first set a non-negotiable daily time to be with your Lord. Then you offer Him your heart and mind as a blank piece of paper to show you whatever He wants. Put His words into your own words. And ask the Holy Spirit to show you something in your life that you can immediately apply God's words to this very day. Learn something from God, and then live it that day.

It is really exciting to experience God taking something that's in His heart and planting it in your heart - with no one in between. Don't abandon those great opportunities to hear from Him through others, like your pastor, for example. It's great to have a special meal, prepared by someone who really knows how to cook spiritually. But there's no substitute for you opening your Lord's Love Letter each new day and finding your own personal message from Him.

Our grandson got really excited when he finally started feeding himself. And he should. It's an important step in growing into all a child is created to be - especially if it's a child of God.