Stop Eating Candy From Life’s Vending Machine

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1383

Abstract

f delicious release quickly fades into obscurity, and the junk we’re eating isn’t good for us in the long run.</p><p id="9cf5">In contrast, Jesus was all about getting that bread. He said,</p><blockquote id="8816"><p>“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35, NIV)</p></blockquote><p id="0872">If we get our sustenance from the Spirit, we don’t need to look at the shiny candy bar anymore. We can be filled with the home-cooked meal of His goodness and love.</p><p id="8112">Now, that doesn’t erase the desire we have to be successful and get ahead in the world. Who doesn’t crave junk food once in a while? We all want to be validated in our achievements and there is nothing wrong with wanting success. It’s when we centre our world around those ambitions that it can become detrimental to our mental and spiritual health.</p><blockquote id="a7d2"><p>James 4:10 (NIV) says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”</p></blockquote><p id="b92a" type="7">It is when we stop trying to force our crumpled dollar bills into life’s vending machine that we find true peace.</p><p id="b0d9">As Christians, we’re called to surrender the control we have over our lives and to live among one another in love. God is calling us to His dinner table in fellowship, and that is one meal I

Options

’ll gladly fill myself up on.</p><p id="ea1a">So the next time you’re tempted to stock up on candy bars, remember you’re filled with the Spirit. Live and love well.</p><p id="b093">More from me:</p><div id="9665" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/im-all-served-out-8ceed4bb0643"> <div> <div> <h2>I’m All Served Out</h2> <div><h3>I put everything into ministry and lost myself in the process.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*RJnzwSHif4sCp3Cz)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="4707" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-next-ladder-rung-of-faith-be22e9e5b170"> <div> <div> <h2>The Next Ladder Rung of Faith</h2> <div><h3>Challenge yourself to move one step closer to God today.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*jaBH7TWaUUf7pL41qpohRQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

You’ll never be satisfied

If you ever want to test your patience, try buying a candy bar from a vending machine that’s on its last legs.

This machine is probably ancient and only accepts cash, so you’re smoothing out your bills as best as you can only for them to be spat out like a baby having a temper tantrum.

And when you finally get that candy, you wolf it down in five seconds. It might’ve temporarily satiated your hunger, but you’re longing for a proper meal.

But we do this every single day of our lives.

We go to work, rinse, repeat. In the monotony of life, the shiny candy bar behind the vending machine’s glass looks so appealing. That candy bar could be a promotion, a new car, a house.

But the reason we aren’t satisfied with these things is the same reason why we shouldn’t live off actual candy bars — what provides a moment of delicious release quickly fades into obscurity, and the junk we’re eating isn’t good for us in the long run.

In contrast, Jesus was all about getting that bread. He said,

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35, NIV)

If we get our sustenance from the Spirit, we don’t need to look at the shiny candy bar anymore. We can be filled with the home-cooked meal of His goodness and love.

Now, that doesn’t erase the desire we have to be successful and get ahead in the world. Who doesn’t crave junk food once in a while? We all want to be validated in our achievements and there is nothing wrong with wanting success. It’s when we centre our world around those ambitions that it can become detrimental to our mental and spiritual health.

James 4:10 (NIV) says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

It is when we stop trying to force our crumpled dollar bills into life’s vending machine that we find true peace.

As Christians, we’re called to surrender the control we have over our lives and to live among one another in love. God is calling us to His dinner table in fellowship, and that is one meal I’ll gladly fill myself up on.

So the next time you’re tempted to stock up on candy bars, remember you’re filled with the Spirit. Live and love well.