Before You Take Your Next Bite

Eating is an activity that all of us engaged in on a regular basis. When we sit down to consume a meal, what goes through our minds? Some people voice a prayer to God expressing thanks for their food. How many of us take the time to truly contemplate the wonder of what we are consuming? Do we think of the process that is involved in producing the food before us?

Springtime is an integral part of the process of food production. Much of the preparation and planting takes place in the spring. We ride down the roads of our nation and see this process unfolding in the fields, but do we understand what makes the process possible?

We find the answer to this question in Psalm 104:10-15.

He sends the springs into the valleys, which flow among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them the birds of the heavens have their habitation; they sing among the branches. He waters the hills from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring food from the earth, and wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart.

When God created the earth, He implemented a process through which the earth would bring forth vegetation and food for its inhabitants, both animal and human. Without this wondrous process the earth would be nothing more than a barren landscape of death.

So before you take your next bite of food, understand that this basis necessity of life which sustains our lives is only possible because of a wonderful Creator who possesses all wisdom and power. The food we consume is just one more expression of God's goodness to us and love for us.

God did not end His favor to man when He created the process that would provide for our physical and material needs. Through His redemption plan accomplished by Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection, God has provided for us spiritual provision that grants eternal life. This precious gift is ours to receive by repenting of our sins and placing our faith in Christ.

The psalmist clearly understood the processes through which God lavishes His favor upon man. In Psalm 107, he repeated the same refrain four times. "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men" (Verses 8,15,21,31). May this be the refrain of our hearts!