Topic: Not By Bread Alone

Text: Leviticus 11:13-20

Key Verse: “And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray” (Leviticus 11:13).

Many fast food establishments in the world operate a franchise system, a concept that is very common in the industry. A parent company, such as McDonald’s or Mr. Biggs, could permit its franchisees to operate branded restaurants in exchange for a franchise fee or a share of the revenue. Franchisees are supplied with uniform ingredients by the parent company or its suppliers and are typically obliged to follow strict operational guidelines. Though many busy people take their meals regularly in fast food restaurants, there is a growing concern that fast foods may not be healthy to the body after all.

The Law of clean and unclean food, found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, was in force long before Moses. Abel was a keeper of sheep, not of pigs (Genesis 4:1-5). Jabal, of the line of Cain, specialized in raising cattle (Genesis 4:20). Noah was told to take unclean animals into the ark by twos, but clean animals by sevens (Genesis 7:1-3). After a safe arrival on Mount Ararat, Noah built an altar upon which he sacrificed every clean animal and clean fowl. From the Old Testament law, any warm-blooded mammal which had split hooves and chewed the cud was clean to eat. Other warm-blooded animals were considered unclean. Of the creatures that live in the waters, only the fish with fins and scales, were clean to eat; others were unclean. God did not permit the eating of the flesh of fowls which were scavengers. All reptiles were unclean, as were all insects except locusts, grasshoppers and certain beetles.

Under the New Testament economy, the believer is set free from all the ceremonial, ritualistic laws and observances. However, he should be careful not to eat the type of food that can cause or promote illnesses and diseases. Neither must he stretch his liberty to eat foods whose consumption might compromise the faith of others. In sum, a Christian must not live by bread or meat alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

Bible In One Year: John 8-9

Thought For The Day: Remember, you are what you eat.