We are constantly amazed by our cats!

For example, they’re constantly eating the wrong cat food.

Neelix is supposed to eat special, very expensive cat food because he has kidney problems. But, instead, he eats the cat food that is healthy for the other cats, but that is harmful to him.

And our other cats, Angel and Lucifer?

They’re sneaky. They constantly eat Neelix’s special cat food, even though it’s harmful to them!

My wife does her best to keep the cats away from the cat food that is bad for them—to get them to eat the cat food that is best for them. But all to no avail. How discouraging!

Jesus must often feel as discouraged about our “eating habits” as my wife feels about the eating habits of our cats.

I’m not talking about whether we eat too many carbs. I’m talking about our refusal to “eat” his words.

As Jesus explained: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry.” (John 6:35).

Why?

Jesus promised us, “[T]he one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven.” (John 6:57-59).

How is this possible?

Jesus told us:

“[T]he living Father sent me and I live because of the Father . . .” (John 6:57).

Furthermore, “the Spirit [of the LORD] gives life.” (John 6:63).

Therefore, [t]he words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit [of the LORD] and life.” (John 6:63).

This is the opposite of the words spoken by the Pharisees and Sadducees—people who served the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World.

Jesus warned his disciples to guard themselves against “bread” made with the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Sadducees—to “guard themselves against the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:12).

The beginning of each New Year is an excellent time to reflect on whether we are feeding ourselves on the right cat food.

Are we guarding ourselves against teachings of Pharisees and Sadducees—against the seductive temptations of the idols of Powers such as the Power of Money, the Power of Religions, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World?

Or are we feeding ourselves only on the right cat food—the teachings of Jesus?

Furthermore, we must be sure to eat a balanced diet of the teachings of Jesus—we must feast on the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:27 KJV; Matthew 7:24-27).

We must not pick and choose only those foods—those teachings—that we enjoy eating.

A good way to avoid such an unbalanced diet of the teachings of Jesus is to attend diverse churches, to read diverse authors, and to participate in diverse small groups where we share life with each other, and share our perspectives as we study books and the Bible together.

Otherwise, we risk attacking one or two of the Powers but missing our ignorance about the temptations from the idols of other Powers.

For example, we may realize the need to stop the Powers of Money from exploiting people, but we may be blind to the many ways that the Powers of Religions and the Powers of the Kingdoms of the World exploit people.

Or, we may be eager to oppose the Powers of the Kingdoms of the World, but we may be blind to the many ways that we need the powers of kingdoms to stop people from being exploited by the Powers of Money and the Powers of Religions.

Or, we may be eager to oppose the Powers of Religions, but we may be blind to the many ways we need the powers of Communities of Wisdom (such as the press, educational institutions, faith communities, and families) to stop people from being exploited by the Powers of Money and the Powers of Kingdoms of the World.

Or, we may be eager to oppose the Powers of Money, Religions and Kingdoms, but be blind to the many ways that the Powers of Sexism, Genderism, and Racism exploit people.

And so, the beginning of each New Year is an excellent time to reflect on whether ALL the words of our mouths, and ALL the meditations of our hearts, are pleasing in the sight of the LORD—our Strength and our Redeemer! (Psalm 19:14 KJV).

READ MORE

For more reflections for the start of each New Year, please read my blog “Stop Drinking Stagnant Water!”

For additional thoughts inspired by our pets, please read my blogs “Toto Begging for Food”, “The Star of Bethlehem Was a ‘Can of Tuna Fish’”, “I Love You, Gram. Bye!”, and “Eating Too Much Too Quickly”.

For the dangers from the Power of Money, the Power of Religion, and the Power of the Kingdoms of the World, please read my blogs “Keeping the Powers of Money, Religion and Kingdoms Separate” and “Jesus Climbs the Temple Mount”, as well as blogs listed in their READ MORE sections.

For additional thoughts about declaring the importance of proclaiming the whole counsel of God, please read my blog “Proclaiming the Whole Counsel of God”.