Meat has been the topic in our home lately. My daughters have both seen videos at school about how animals are treated in slaughterhouses, and they have come home and told me about it in graphic detail. I won’t share what they say ends up in our meat, but the point is, they are deeply moved about the welfare of the animals, and about what they are putting into their bodies. They’d like me to find a local supplier who deals only in local meat from smaller farms.
That’s a noble aim, and I support it. I share their same sadness for the animals who are treated as meat alone, and not as God’s beautiful and humble creation. While I do not intend to become a vegetarian, I will look into the local fare. All of this will depend on what my budget can afford.
A number of years ago, I was trying to buy as much organic food as possible. That’s when I was married and shared a much bigger income. One day, I sat down and added up our food receipts (including the paper goods, etc.) for one month, and was shocked to see that I’d spent about $900 for four people. I realized that while organic food is a great idea, and I do try to buy as much as possible, it’s not always realistic.
That’s when we have to rely on the blessing of God. Look at what Paul said in his letter to Timothy:
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1-5)
As Christians, we often forget the power we have at our disposal. We have the power of the blessing and sanctification of our food through the word of God and prayer. I love the direct translation of verse 5 from the Greek on the Online Greek Interlinear Bible (www.scripture4all.org):
It is being HOLY-ized for thru saying of God and pleading.
One of the beautiful aspects of the original translation of the Bible is that it is always written in the present tense. “It is being HOLY-ized…” God is always at work, and when we use His word and our prayers to sanctify our food, He does so. We can feel secure in our own food budget that when we buy the food we can afford, God will do the rest to bless our bodies.
Remember, it isn’t just food that feeds us, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Deut. 8:3) When we are fed by His word and the sanctified food which we ask Him to bless, we can be sure that we have fed our bodies and our spirits as well.
Perhaps, when we bring our groceries home, we can say scripture over the bounty, something like that which the angels sing to Jesus in heaven:
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom
and might and honor and glory and blessing. (Rev. 5:12)
