"Today's Devotion": (08/09/03) So What's Eating You?

Read: II Corinthians 13:11-14 Psalm 8

SO WHAT'S EATING YOU? by Rev. Richard Boeck

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."(Jn.14:27)

There's a story about three men who were discussing the condition of obesity and the overall health of people. One man said, "The trouble with most people is that they eat too much." The second man responded, "Oh, I don't know. I think the problem isn't so much how much they eat, but what they eat." The third man, a physician, chuckled. He'd been having a similar discussion with one of his patients earlier, a man with an ulcer, although at his ideal weight and otherwise healthy. He said, "No. No. Gentlemen. It's not how much you eat, or what you eat that makes the difference. It's what's eating you that's most important."

So what's eating you? Do you know or is it just some vague uneasiness deep down inside? You know what I mean. Your mind goes over and over a problem and there appears to be no solution. If I do this, then this person will be upset with me. If I do that, then I'll be miserable, but the other person will be happy. Of course, not ever issue that troubles us is personal. On a daily basis the news is full of the dangers, trials, troubles, and inequities of life. There's the AIDS epidemic, the obesity epidemic, economic stagnation, unemployment, unrest around the world, and the fear that the government isn't telling the truth about whatever it is it's not telling the truth about today. And, so often, in order to compensate for such uneasiness and uncertainty of our minds, people turn to food, pills, drugs, shots, or "the bottle." Yet the missing ingredient that can put our minds at peace is the grace and mercy of God.

St. Paul was a living example of trust in the grace and mercy of God. He had overcome so many things that could have led him away from the Lord. Yet, by the Spirit's power he had overcome. As their spiritual mentor, St. Paul had been helping the Corinthian church to come to grips with the confusion and anxiety that was gripping their fellowship and pulling them away from the Gospel. He closes out his letters to them by encouraging them to trust in God's love and peace. And so also are we encouraged. Only the grace and mercy of God, the love of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit can stop "what's eating you." As we grow in God's Word, receive His forgiveness in Jesus every day, and share with one another the marvelous things He does in our lives everyday, "what's eating you?" will no longer be the question. After all, by the grace of God, we rest in the loving arms of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You have made me Your child by faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, Father, I struggle with so many things in my life that trouble my heart, my mind, my spirit, and my health. I'm so inundated with bad news that I often find it hard to see the good things with which You bless me and others. And, Father, I realize that, at times, the anxiety I feel because of the bad news affects my relationships with my loved ones, with people I meet every day, and, even more of concern to me, with You. Father, send Your Spirit upon me in abundant measure that as I read Your Word I may grow in my faith and trust in You. By the power of Your Spirit, remind me that I am Yours, that You have declared me so in Holy Baptism as You put the mark of Christ on me, and that, because I am Yours, my mind and heart can be at peace in You. Hear my cry, O God, for the sake of Christ my Lord and Savior. Amen. --Pastor Boeck Copyright @2003. All rights reserved

************************************* Pastor Richard Boeck is writer and publisher of “Today’s Devotion,” a brief, daily devotion that brings the grace and love of God in Jesus Christ to bear on the events of the day and people’s lives. If you wish to receive a free subscription please send an email to: revrboeck@netscape.net. Please put “Send me‘Today’s Devotion’” in the subject box. Please also include your first and last names in the body. You may also address any questions to the same address. ************************************