Jesus was a master at using nature and other things to teach profound lessons about life and how to live it. Recently my eyes fell upon a grocery bag that had been filled with groceries we purchased from a grocery store. I was struck with the message on the bag and felt this was a teaching moment for me and I want to share it with you.
In bold print on the top of the bag were these words: “HEALTH STARTS HERE.” Near the bottom of the bag were these words: “LIVE THE GOOD LIFE ONE MEAL AT A TIME.” The clever advertisers wanted us to believe that by purchasing and consuming their products we will be healthier one meal at a time.
I believe the Holy Spirit directed me to draw an arrow from “HEALTH STARTS HERE” to a bold CROSS I drew in the blank spot in the middle of the bag.
Recently my heart has been consumed with the power of the Cross of Christ and with a fresh understanding of what it really means to be crucified with Christ. Galatians 3: 20 has taken on a new meaning for me. “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body (earth suit) by trusting in the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me.”
As I face the remaining years of my life, I have a passion to become more intimately related to God and to let the cross continue to do its work in me so that His love and resurrection power can flow more freely through me to others.
These words, “LIVE THE GOOD LIFE ONE MEAL AT TIME,” applies to the truth that in order to live the “good life,” we must go beyond the “good life” to a “GODLY LIFE.” We can only live the godly life by daily taking up our cross and following Him and by daily feeding on the meals the Holy Spirit sets before us.
So many times our spiritual appetite is spoiled by indulging in practices that cause us to not “taste and see that the Lord is good.” The table God prepares for us is healthier spiritually, emotionally, physically and relationally that anything we can provide for ourselves.
May the Holy Spirit help us all, as followers of Christ, to understand that our real life, spiritually, emotionally, physically and relationally begins at the CROSS.
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