As an immigrant child, one thing that always stood out to me as I was growing up in Germany were the cultural differences. Looking back I can only respect our parents for keeping their culture, values and morals to such a high standard in a completely different world and by that never allowing us to forget where we come from all while providing us with a better future.
The list of absolute no-goes in an African home compared to a German one is pretty long. I think all diaspora kids could gather on one big table and have some serious group therapy considering our parents' strict ways at times and the audacity of the western people towards us and just generally the distress of living in two different worlds as a teenager.
Apart from not being allowed to have a boyfriend, talking back, or dress a certain way the thing that always stood out to me the most was the way our parents communicated their love.
We all know that the notorious sentence: "Have you eaten?" Can be commonly translated to: I love you, I'm proud of you, I care about you and even I'm sorry - in an African home without them actually having to say it. In an African home food is a whole love language.
Germans have a saying that what's on the table is what's going to be eaten. So no matter what they serve you, whether you like it or not, you eat it. But that's actually not quite the upbringing princess Ashley right here had at all. My mum is the kind of mother that would cook a different dish for each child as long as we would be satisfied. I know! My mum is that kind of mother that would go all out for her kids just to make them happy which on one hand I'm still extremely grateful for because it saved me from some weird pasta with Ketchup combos that my sisters requested, yet on the other hand enabled me to become pretty spoilt, not very open to trying things I don't know and birthed the perfect fussy eater.
Now, you're probably wondering why I'm telling you about all of this foodstuff and reminiscing about my childhood but God actually pointed something very profound out to me by showing me my eating habits.
What sounds weird at first about our parents showing us love by feeding us translates into how God loves us. He loves us by feeding us, providing for us and nurturing us also. There are many instances in the Bible where food plays a big part in God's Faithfulness, provision and fatherly care for us. From feeding the Israelites with Manna from heaven to causing ravens to feed the Prophet in exile and even to provide an overflow of oil for the widow and her son. God's provision reassures us that He is with us, loves us and cares for us.
God is right there willing to prepare a feast for us yet we want to decide what will be served, how it will be served and who's going to sit next to us while we eat.
As I stated earlier, I'm a fussy eater and the same way I'm selective with my food I'm selective with his word, which is my daily bread. As a matter of fact, this generation has become selective with God's word and people. And I'm not talking about a Test- all-spirits-kind of selectiveness I'm talking about 'I don't listen to this preacher because I heard he cheated on his wife' or 'I don't listen to this worship team because they don't have all the perfect lights and cameras like the others' or 'I'm not buying her book because I don't like her'.
We are so persistent on our own preferences and the way we're used to things that we allow to miss out on a word from God because we don't like the vessel He used to deliver it.
The Bible says that if even humans who are wicked by nature don't give their children a stone when they ask for bread or a serpent when they ask for fish, how much more will our heavenly Father feed us what is good. (Matthew 7: 9-11)
The Bible makes us understand that God wants to feed us both physically by providing for us daily (giving us our daily bread - Matthew 6:11) as well as spiritually ( feeding us meat, not milk - Hebrews 5:12.)
Yet this attitude that many of us have left us starving and unable to grow and mature in ways God desires us to. Many of us are so used to the way we receive from God and eat His word, we don't even know that while we think we're full of scriptures were empty of Him and starving spiritually. So Let's look at some points that show us if we're starving.
1.) You read the word only to post or to prove a point.
Not that I'm proud of it but I have opened my Bible just to prove a point before, to support a quote I wanted to post on social media and even to use it against my Husband in an argument. I know, I'm churchy like that and that's not right. Do you know who else had a habit of using their Biblical wisdom as a means to point fingers? The Pharisees. They would put Jesus in cross-examinations to refute any and everything He said. It's simply the wrong motivation to read and study the word to put others down and to prove your point.
Instead: We should study the word to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15), honouring it and acknowledging His word as a blueprint for our godly lives.
Tip 1.) Be intentional about reading God's word.
It's alive, breathing and active. Pray before reading it.
2.) Just to say: "I read my Bible"
I know I can't be the only one that gets upset when I get a streak in the Bible app because I missed out on a day of reading my Bible so I just open it before midnight without really reading anything just so I can keep my number up. Okay, it's just me...well then never mind. But I'm sure we all had busy days when we simply forgot to eat so we grab an apple or a sandwich to satisfy the hunger at that moment and quickly move on with our lives. What that does to us is make us hungry again a few moments later physically spiritually just like before: empty and weak.
Instead: We should be intentional about reading the word of God and taking time to "digest" what we read.
The Bible isn't fast food, it's soul food that's supposed to be enjoyed.
Tip 2.) Read and study the whole Gospel by dedicating time to read the books of the small Prophets. Read a translation that is easy for you to digest.
3.) The word of God doesn't challenge you anymore.
Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. The more we read the word the more we hear from God and hearing from God should change us, challenge us and mature us. You cannot hear from God daily and remain the same. There are specific books in the Bible like Zephania or Nahum that we probably never read or don't even know the core message of because we prefer reading the Acts of the Apostles or a nice simple story like that of Ruth or Esther. At some point, I basically refused to read the book of Revelation because I was simply scared, confused and yeah a bit horrified after reading it. But how do I expect to grow?
Instead: We like the sugar-coated, watered-down gospel that makes us feel good, motivates us and allows us to remain the same. But the scriptures are meant for more than just making us feel good.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
II Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV
Tip 3.) Use Bible reading plans in the YouVersion app with reminders to help you stay on track with reading the word daily.
I guess the Kingdom of heaven can be likened to an African home in some sense. God loves us and feeds us and it shows in His word. I don't want to be picking and choosing what I will eat from the generous table that God has set for me but I want to trust that every word He speaks is like honey to my lips and water to my soul.
God is telling you that He loves, cares and provides for you today and every day in a language we all understand: "Have you eaten?"
Give us this day our daily bread
Matthew 6:11
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