Today’s scripture: Matthew 15:10-20 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Mark Shoup):
It seems that people today are more concerned than ever before about the food they eat. From crazy fad diets to allergy restrictions, veganism, eating only locally produced food or only organics, people seem overly concerned about every little facet of the food they eat. As an employee of a specialty grocery store, I can tell you that you don’t want to get between certain people and whatever the latest food fad is they saw on Dr. Oz or Oprah.
But the mouth is a two-way street, and I wonder if many people think even once, let alone twice, about the words they say or ideas they express?
Sure, there is importance in eating healthy and avoiding foods that can make you sick, but how much harm can also be done by a carelessly offered remark or derogatory insult? How many of us have been wounded by things our loved ones have said, and still worry over them long after the person who said them has completely forgotten about it?
Maybe as followers of Christ, we need to pay close attention to what Jesus says in today’s scripture and be more concerned about the words and thoughts that we are putting out into the world. Maybe we need to make as great an effort in saying things that build people up, as we put into finding our hormone- and antibiotic-free, grass-fed, locally-grown beef. Maybe we should avoid engaging in hurtful talk to the extent we avoid high fructose corn syrup and trans fats.
Thought for the day: How much money and time do I put into what I eat? How much effort and thought do I put into the things that I say?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.