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Key Bible Verse: You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food (Hebrews 5:12). Bonus Reading: Hebrews 5:11–14

Do you know why the bears of Yellowstone Park aren't as visible as they used to be? Over the years, these furry creatures were being fed by wide-eyed tourists. And the food offered was quite different from their natural diet of nuts, berries, fish, and small animals. The consequences were tragic.

During hibernation, the fat buildup from "people food" burned off much more rapidly than the animal fat created by a bear's natural diet. During the winter months, scores of bruins froze to death. So the bears were relocated by truck to the high country, away from tourist trails.

I wonder how many Chris-tians need to be relocated to high country, where their daily discipleship diet can be assured? Just as bears must be guarded against the wrong kind of food, we must guard against the wrong kind of spiritual nourishment. I'm calling this spiritual junk food.

By this term, I mean a secondhand reliance on faith. We hope certain folks we admire will continue to live close to God and experience his power. Then all we'll have to do is draw close to them. But if that's all we ever do, we never get to know God ourselves.

—Greg Asimakoupoulos in Jesus: The People's Choice

My Response: What percentage of my spiritual food is "processed" through others?

Thought to Apply: I am sorry for men who don't read the Bible every day. I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and pleasure.
—Woodrow Wilson

Adapted from: Jesus: The People's Choice (Mainstay, 1999) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me regularly to go straight to Your Word and find direction and nourishment.

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