Sanctifying Sacrifice

I’m not on a diet, I’m on a journey with Jesus to learn the fine art of self-discipline for the purpose of holiness”. 

Lysa Terkheurst, Made to Crave

I have often referred to the bible as a love letter. Christians boldly share that “God so loved the world” and Jesus would have died even if you were the only one to save. Of course, these are true! But somewhere in the church clichés, I forgot that Scripture is not just an archetypal story of universal salvation. The Word addresses EACH of my needs in a unique and powerful way.

Imagine my refreshing surprise when…over the last 6weeks of reading Made to Crave…I have seen a new theme arise across the entire bible. A theme that specifically tackles my issues with food.

At the very beginning of time and humanity,

Eve was tempted by FOOD!

Genesis 3:6 – “When the woman saw the fruit of the tree

 was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also

desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it”.

In the Old Testament under the Old Covenant,

the Israelites’ struggle with food sent them

wandering in the desert for 40 long years!

 Psalms 78:18 – “They willfully put God to the test 

by demanding the food they craved”.

In the New Testament, as Jesus prepares for ministry 

and ushers in the New Law, Christ defeats Satan's

temptation after a redemptive 40 day fast!

John 4:34 – “ ‘My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the 

will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’ ”

In Revelation, God’s shares a vision of His promise and plan;

sure enough, there’s more mention of victory with food!

Revelation 2:7 – “To him who overcomes, 

I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, 

which is the paradise of God”.

After years of calling the bible a “love letter” (and calling myself a Christ-follower), it took joining this Made to Crave journey for me to see how the message of God’s hope addresses EVERY human issue…even my struggles with food.

You see – it’s not really about food anyway. It’s not as simple as replacing donuts with carrots. It’s about ALL the things that have, can, or will consume my heart more than Christ.

When I intimately understand food cravings 

but have to stop and ask if I’ve ever truly yearned for God… 

there is a problem!

When I spend hours chatting with old friends 

but rarely squeeze in a quiet moment of prayer or praise…

there is a problem!

When hours of Facebook-scrolling or Netlflix-marathoning 

are more appealing that time spent in the Word…

there is a problem!

The promise of Revelation 2:7 is for those who overcome. Overcome what...not to mention how? For me…in this season of life…the initial struggle was loosing a child and turning to food rather than Christ. It was only once I reached the end of my own effort that I began to see God’s fingerprints redeeming the loss and drawing me to Him. As Lysa wrote: “it is good for God’s people to be put in a place of longing so they feel slight desperation. Only then can we be empty enough and open enough to discover the holiness we were made for.”

 

In another season, there will be other trials and temptations. But this Made to Crave experience has reminded me of the bigger process and the deeper plan. Yes – the bible is a letter about love…but remember that His love calls us to purity and then fans the refining flames.

Dear friends, whether your current idol is the call of cake, the lure of lust, or the magnetism of money - - take hope! We are on a life-long journey of redemption...a beautiful transformation from sinner to saint! But chiseling a masterpiece is hard work. Deep cleaning always looks messier in the process. Sometimes it may feel like two step forward and another back. Keep faith! Eyes on the prize! Triumph lies in your very next choice!

“One wise choice can lead to two, can lead to three, can lead to a thousand, can lead to the sweet place of utter dependence on God and lasting discipline”. 
Lysa Terkheurst, Made to Crave

Victory is about intentional sacrifice that chooses long-term gain over short-term loss. Overcoming is really just a series of small sanctifying surrenders. So while our Made To Crave study has drawn to end, our God is just getting started!

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