What's in Your Plate?

Jesus is in my home. How joyful it is to have such a Guest. Thanks to His presence, changes have occurred in all my rooms. Everything that had any relation to evil was removed, and the rooms shone with cleanliness. I walked around admiring the new order. And I asked my Friend to enter wherever He thought necessary and do whatever He wanted, so that He would feel at home.

Dinner time was approaching, and I came to the kitchen to prepare a big treat. My heart was jubilant, knowing that the Lord Himself was now sitting in my house, waiting for what I would prepare. How skillfully my hands worked, sorting through products and creating culinary masterpieces. I wanted not only to feed but also to surprise my dear Friend with the prepared treat. I immersed myself completely in the work.

During the process, I heard a familiar knock on the refrigerator, and the question sounded: "May I take a look inside?" This time I had no fear or shame, but indignation filled my consciousness. However, out of respect for the Guest, I gave consent. Jesus opened the door and began quietly examining the contents, carefully reading the composition of semi-finished products and other foods. I watched Him out of the corner of my eye. A real storm began in my thoughts. I wanted to say that one should not pry where they are not invited, but remembering my shame from previous checks of my abodes, I decided to remain silent. When the Lord took and demonstratively threw a couple of beautiful packages into the trash can, I was outraged but tried to calmly ask: "What are You doing, Jesus?" He smiled and let me know that he would answer later. Closing the refrigerator, He went to the living room.

And now dinner is ready, the table is set, we sit across from each other and begin to eat. I decided to surprise my Guest with a prayer of thanksgiving for the food and solemnly asked for a blessing on the meal we were about to enjoy. But I was surprised that after the prayer, Jesus did not say the usual "Amen", however, He sat down to eat with me. Friendly communication began. And when I put on my plate what my eyes chose, I heard a quiet knock on the table and the question: "What's in your plate?" This is too much!!! I simply exploded with indignation. All my anger poured out, and I expressed what was overflowing in me. He listened silently and smiled modestly. When my vocabulary was exhausted, I wondered why Jesus asked me this question? I decided to answer and began to list the names of the products in my plate. I did not understand why He was so interested in what I was eating. Was it not enough that cleanliness reigned in my rooms? Naming the products, I watched Jesus, trying to understand what He wanted to convey to me. I asked the question that worried me: "Lord, why didn't You say 'Amen' at the end of the prayer?" To which He calmly replied that He could not bless what is not illuminated by the Word of God as suitable for food. I felt uneasy. I began to quickly recall what is written in the Bible about nutrition, and the Lord suggested that I pay attention to the book of Leviticus, chapter 11. Here I could not help but quickly open the text of Acts 10:15: "Then the voice spoke to him again: What God has made clean, do not call impure." The Lord waited for this answer and was not surprised at all but said that Peter himself explained the meaning of this vision, saying afterward in Acts 10:28: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean." This verse appeared in a new light in my consciousness. I looked at the Bible, then looked at the table, and suddenly it dawned on me that what lay before me was prohibited by God to be eaten, and I wanted to feed Jesus with it. How embarrassing. I nervously began to remove from the table everything that the Word of God calls unclean. I asked Jesus: "But the New Testament has made everything clean, and the Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!" To which He calmly replied that God does not change, and what He once defined as unclean and an abomination for food will remain so forever. I began to understand something and ponder.

But dinner continues. I ate what remained on the table, and then we moved on to tea. Our conversation went as I considered necessary. I had many questions, and I received answers. And here I cut myself a large piece of cake and was just about to eat it when I heard a quiet knock on the table and the question: "What's in your plate?" This time, I felt bad from the premonition that something was wrong again. I did not argue, although it was very unpleasant to understand that my Guest was examining the contents of my plate. Let Him look in His own. But I asked: "Lord, what is wrong this time?" And He asked in response: "Do you want to be healthy?" What a familiar question, I had already heard it. What did He mean? I nod my head.

And He points to a book on my shelf about the basics of healthy nutrition and makes it clear that everything is written there, and if I follow all these rules, success awaits me.

I immediately remembered those who tried to teach me these basics, their attitude toward me, their exclusivity and dislike for people living differently. And I shuddered at the thought that I should become the same. The Lord smiled and said: "My grace is sufficient for you. When you approach these issues with love, then you will see the entire beauty of the Food Reform. As a reward, you will gain health and a clear mind. Moderation in everything will become your way of thinking, and you will look at life joyfully. Disease will be removed from you. Happiness will fill your heart, and you will be able to give it to others."

To my objection that there is a lot of similar information on the internet now, and one does not know what to believe, He said: "First study this message in its pure form, and then you will be able to distinguish the pure from the impure even in the internet networks."

I thought. Could it really be so important and interconnected? I understood that just as a hand is connected to the body, the Food Reform is very important to me. For if my mind is not overloaded with abundance and variety of food, receiving everything necessary, it will excellently cope with spiritual tasks, evaluating everything in the right light.

I look at my plate and think about how ignorant I am in this matter. But I decide to study what the Lord advises.

I ask to be given love so that it would be the driving motive in studying God's message, and I receive assurance that love is now mine, and the Lord will teach me to perceive and give everything in its light. How interesting and joyful!

In the spirit of love, I began to see much more, and understanding how important it is to eat correctly became a light in my house. I confidently opened my refrigerator and was horrified by what it was filled with. Now I understood Jesus when He examined its contents and studied the composition of products. He wants to gift me the happiness of health, and it is so pleasant to understand this. How good that Jesus sent me this light. Now I began to understand that many diseases come as a consequence of my ignorance, and I decided to change my habits.

Reflection Questions for this Chapter

1. What did you understand from this chapter?

2. What does Jesus see in my plate?

3. Why did God make a division between clean and unclean?

4. Do I need a food reform? If yes, then for what?

5. Will I be saved through knives and forks? Do I need righteousness through nutrition?

6. Do I glorify God by what I eat?

7. Please read Isaiah 66:15-17; 2 Chronicles 20:20; 1 Samuel 15:22; Luke 21:34 in light of this chapter.