Mealtime
A Devotion
The Goodsoil Discipleship Ministry
By Bro. Andy Madonio
16NO99
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. (2) I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, (3) for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
As pastors and teachers and preachers and disciples of Jesus, we must be Spirit-led in the feeding and nurturing of those precious sheep we are privileged to encounter. One may be ravenously hungry for the Living Word -- hallelujah! Others need to be coaxed into tiny nibbles of the Bread of Life. Certainly, the ravenous one needs more than daily doles of milk, it is meat he is in need of! Too slow a dole and he may become malnourished. Conversely, there exist those young ones that have eyes as saucers -- desiring more than they can ingest. Oh yes, they are very hungry to be sure, and they are always reaching for those courses at the table that are big and sumptuous and obvious and desirous to hold, and yet are completely indigestible to their undeveloped systems. This lamb can no more eat of God's strong meat than a newborn can chew a porterhouse.
In a divine spiritual sense, we are mere waiters serving tables. The Lord is the Master Chef in His kitchen. He has planned meals perfectly and individually for each one of His own. It is for us, the servants of the Word, to bring only that which He has determined for each of His lambs. Some may object, "I need more meat -- I am ready," or "I have not time enough to consume my last meal -- this is too much!" We are to bring out from God's storehouse things both new and old for them to ingest and digest and grow strong on. But it must be at the Lord's direction, not our determination. The apostle desired more for his charges, but the Spirit made clear they were not ready. Spiritual malnourishment is usually the fault of the lamb or his shepherd and not a lack of available sustenance.
The Lord's table is bountiful indeed! It is beyond compare! We must, however, be wary that too much rich fare makes for indigestion and illness, the eater becoming uncomfortable and overfed. Delicacy and richness are wasted in overindulgence and abuse. This kind of spiritual eating makes one fat not fit. Feed only as He provides; the manna was not given lavishly or sparingly but adequately, and no one hungered in God's camp. Each had his portion according to the requirement. Feed only as God leads.
