TUESDAY April 8, 2025

Thanksgiving for Our Daily Provisions

...and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:3-5

Paul gave a second area of deception––abstaining from all manner of foods. Yes, there are times we can fast and pray, but to live our lives refusing to eat certain foods for religious reasons is not really necessary. According to the Law, Jews abstained from certain foods, but under grace, all foods are now accepted with prayerful thanksgiving.

Some people stop eating meat and become vegetarians. Recently, an extreme vegan influencer stopped eating protein and just ate fruit. It was recorded that for six years, she switched from drinking water to drinking fruit and vegetable juices. It took a terrible toll on her body. She looked anorexic––just skin and bones. What happened? She died. The cause of her death was reported to be malnutrition and disease. It is deceptive to think you cannot eat a well-balance diet and not experience adverse effects. People get deceived into all kinds of weird diets. Be careful and check with your doctor, even when fasting.

Let me say this: when I went to China, I really prayed with thanksgiving while receiving my food. I looked down at my plate, and on top of the rice was a head of a rooster with its crown. The whole thing tasted good, but there were other foods on my plate that I ate without knowing what they were.

Every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused. So, frog legs are good! Snails are good, too! Here is the key: As a child of God, and as you are continuously in His Word, your food is sanctified ...by the Word of God and prayer. Again, we are no longer under the Law concerning any food; we are under grace. Therefore, we can eat whatever we like with thanksgiving. So eat up!

Why should we give God thanks? Because everything we have comes from God.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!