Remember when our parents used to tell us to "eat our vegetables"? Most of us probably hated vegetables, and would do anything in our power to not even so much as touch them. Maybe some of us came up with the ingenious ideas of making it seem like we ate them, but instead hide them, or discard them somewhere else. But once we got older, we finally realized why our parents often forced us to eat our vegetables, because despite our feelings for them then and even now, they were and still are beneficiary for our bodies.
In Daniel Chapter 1 a bunch of young men were appointed to serve the King. They were told to be fed wine and the choicest victuals of the palace. But when Daniel heard what they were to be fed, he asked the guard to give them vegetables instead. That is not a misprint.
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. Daniel 1:11-16
As Christians it is important for us each to "eat our vegetables". If we do not, then we will not grow in our faith. Daniel knew that the palace food would not help them look better or feel better. The same goes with the sins and pleasures of the world. We think they look good, taste good, and feel good to us, but in the end we become malnourished and sloth-like, hooked on the things most deadly to our souls. In the end, when it is all too late, we realize our souls were never satisfied like we thought they were; we feel empty and alone; lost, forever.
So instead of shoving the good stuff out of the way, we need to acknowledge the fact that we now need those things more than ever. And in order to get it, we will have to take that first step of guiding the forks to our mouths. By the end of the day you will feel more energetic and stronger. You will even be thankful that you did the right thing, for you will feel much better than if you were to have skipped to that chocolate bar you had been eyeballing instead...
Our parents knew that vegetables were good for us. They weren't trying to punish us, but wanted what was best for us. God as our Heavenly Father would also like for us to eat our vegetables because He loves us and wishes that we would grow in our faith.
Sometimes it is difficult to follow God in a world where God is not very welcome. But if we continue to eat our vegetables, then our faith will strengthen, and God will help us to be strong for His name in this world. So pray, talk with Him, fellowship with other believers, go to Church, Bible study, sing songs to Him, read His Word, make your relationship with Him real in your life. Do not do these things thinking as a Christian that is something you have to do. Do them because you want to strengthen your personal relationship with your Heavenly Father. Do them because you know that you will grow in your faith. Do them because you do not wish to be brought down by the darkness of this world. If you do them with that attitude, you will be a light to the world, and give hope to the lost and hopeless. And change your own life for the better as well.*
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:15-17
Eating my vegetables,
Whitney
