Biblical Recipes

I see adds all over the place trying to piggy back off of someone else’s fame. Maybe it is a movie star that speaks for a specific product, which is their right to do, but they have no more authority on how something works than the average Joe. Now, Artificial Intelligence is creating ads using people that I know didn’t personally do the add. I don’t know if they agree with it, but it was not done by them. Those bother me a little. What bothers me the most is using God’s name or the Bible to sell a product. That sounds strange to say, but I have been seeing so many adds about how the Bible has a diet plan, a recipe for how to improve sight, how to cleanse your system, get rid of diabetes, and so much more. The only specific recipe or diet that I know of was what Daniel did when he was in Babylon. I don’t, however, see the Bible telling everybody that they had to eat like that all the time. When people try to get specific coded or hidden formulas for various ailments, I have to wonder if it would read the same way if looking at the original Greek or Hebrew. When someone tries to say that if you turn to a specific book of the Bible and take every 5th letter, that it spells something out. It only works in that one version of the Bible. With a computer, you can find what appear to be hidden messages in almost any written book. When I do any sort of a search on these secret formulas, they don’t really stand up to any scholarly testing. To set things straight, God’s message is much clearer. The Bible isn’t a self-help book, but rather points us to the One who can truly help us, Jesus Christ. There can be helpful passages like “Do not be discouraged. Be not afraid” or “I can to all things through Him who gives us strength”, but that is not a formula. It is God’s promise and aid. Those that search God’s word to benefit them in a worldly way are building on a foundation of sand. Our rock, our strength, or hope is in God Himself. The goal of the Christian life is not prosperity and comfort, but rather, faithfulness and obedience. We are not saved by our status or wealth. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When people are telling you there is a secret way to improve your life, understand this - the Holy Spirit is the one that brings healing, direction, understanding, etc. as He chooses. O Holy Spirit, give us a deeper understanding of who You are and how we should be living our lives. Strengthen our faith. Amen