Bananas!

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bananas bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

            

Matthew 4:4

Let’s talk about bananas.  There aren’t too many foods that I always have to have in the house –but almost every trip to the supermarket involves a purchase of  bananas.  I have to have bananas.  I usually run in the morning – before I have breakfast.   Bananas are a big part of my pre run and post run diet.  They provide the nutrients that help fuel my run and help me recover afterwards.   Fortunately bananas are easy to find, easy to open, and taste pretty good. 

Proper nutrition is important for the runner.   It’s hard to train for a marathon on a diet of Big Macs and soda– you would do much better on a more balanced healthier diet.  As I train I have to make wise decisions to eat this and not eat that.  I know I am not always going to make the healthiest decisions (I mean, how can I pass up the chocolate chip cookies my 9 year old  daughter made?).   But I can choose to, over the long haul, consistently make good ones.  And then those choices will sustain me through a 20 mile training run, and the training runs that follow.

So how does this relate to our Christian race?  So many of us try to run this race without the proper diet.  Yes, we go to church most Sundays, and read an occasional “Christian” book,  but what are we really doing  to make sure we are getting a healthy intake of spiritual food?  The Bible should be our main source of nutrients.  In order to successfully run the Christian race we need to be taking in God’s Word on not just a weekly basis – but on a daily basis.   How many of us eat only once a week?  Yes, we can live our lives without God’s Word.  Many people do.  But it’s like training for a marathon on that diet of Big Macs – eventually we will burn out.  We can do so much better!  God’s Word provides the proper diet to run the Christian race the way He intended us to run it.  It will provide the strength and encouragement to continue when we feeling like giving up.  As I run the Christian race, leading a small group study, teaching a Sunday School class, leading the Missions team, or even raising my kids, I realize how essential  that part of my diet is.  

Remember that man should not live on bananas alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 

So grab a banana, and your Bible, and let’s run!