We are often exhorted to eat healthily though that is easier said than done as there is often confusion as to what is actually healthy as advice is constantly changing. One of those food types that nutritionists often are processed foods as opposed to raw natural foods. But what about spiritual food? Many people use daily devotionals and should say straightaway that I am not going to criticise any individual devotional, rather this post is about how people use them. The spiritual food we should be taking in is the Bible, the Word of God. Daily devotionals are usually short pithy pieces which if used properly whet the appetite for reading and studying the Bible. They often include extracts from the Bible or a story that exemplifies Biblical principles and are designed to be readable. But as such they are highly curated and edited to fit into a bitesize nugget. They are snacks but not the main course. Snacking is what nutritionists often target first to cut down the calories. But they also stress a balanced diet. The problem is that Christians tend to talk about reading the Bible more than actually reading the Bible. Reading a devotional may give the impression that they are reading more of the Bible than they are. As some devotionals are produced by ministries as a means of encouraging their supporters which is understandable there is a danger that they tend to say things that have a positive spin to things. Now I have to admit there have been times when it is good to read something positive before you get out of bed in the morning. However, if that’s all you read then it gets rather saccharine. Paul was exasperated when First century Christians refused to be weaned from spiritual milk to spiritual meat. I just wonder what he would think of today’s Christians, some of whom be horrified with his metaphors and ask for a spiritual vegan option instead. We live in a society where we want everything to be as convenient as possible and it is all too easy to think that because you have read a devotional that has contained a Bible verse or two that you have “read the Bible today.” There are too many people looking for a quick and easy way to spiritual maturity but like the “easy dollar” they find in the long run that it is hard to get.

David Gordon Rose, 2024.