Today’s devotion comes from 1 Timothy 4:1-5.
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:1-5.
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“Thank You for this food; bless it to our bodies.”, we pray in recognition of today’s Scripture. But, our gratitude and prayer for blessing is much broader.
“Thank You for our bodies; bless them for service to You.”, we also pray in recognition of today’s Scripture. But, our gratitude and prayer for blessing is even still much broader.
“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” 1 Timothy 6:17
“And wine which makes man’s heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains man’s heart.” Psalm 104:15
Food may strengthen us for service to God, but wine makes us recognize that God wants us to enjoy Him as well as serve Him. We glorify God not only by our service to Him but also by our enjoyment of Him.
“in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
We are grateful for all things which God richly supplied us, but we are also grateful for God Himself.
We pray that we may glorify God by not only all our service to Him, but we also pray that we may glorify God by all our enjoyment of what God has provided for us.
We pray that we may serve our LORD, but we also pray that we may enjoy our Faithful Father.
We are reminded of Question and Answer 1 of Westminister Larger Catechism:
Question 1: What is the chief and highest end of man?
Answer: Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 