Banquet With The King: Is All Food Good to Eat?

Any kind of food is acceptable to eat. Still there are some foods that you want to be sure to pray over…to consecrate…before you eat them. By this scripture it is all right to eat foods that you wouldn’t normally eat…like my grandson suggested when he was much younger…fried tarantulas, gator kabobs, silkworms or even grilled chicken feet. Once a friend of mine found a chicken foot in the tasty soup she was enjoying in Portugal, that was the end of the meal for her. Even some people in the old days flavored their chicken soup with chicken feet. I discovered that you can buy them today in some stores, like a local Mexican grocery. Do you want to try some?

Does your diet honor the Lord? How many candy bars have you treated yourself to this month? Do you give thanks before chomping down those chocolates? What foods do you refuse to eat? Brussels sprouts? Try cooking them in chicken broth (without chicken feet!). It is amazing how they are not bitter when cooked that way. Like many vegetables, brussels sprouts are also good roasted at 400 degrees for about twenty minutes. Just give thanks and enjoy.

Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. Romans 14:6

It is interesting to note that in the Old Testament people were encouraged to give thanks…a blessing…after the meal and it was actually for the land, not for the food.

So obey the commands of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and fearing him.

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.

It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. Deuteronomy 8:6-11

Now the Jewish ritual is not just a simple prayer but depends specifically on the foods that were consumed. There is a long list of foods and blessings available in Jewish resources and on-line. Google it.

Mosaic near the Sea of Galilee - Israel
Commemorates the Feeding of the 5,000
Loaves and Fishes

Jesus gave thanks…a blessing to the Lord God, before the meal, like when He fed the five thousand men and their families. Jesus seems to have initiated the pre-meal blessing routine that most Christians follow today. This type of blessing consecrates, makes holy, the food before it is consumed.

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. John 6:11

Jews today have a traditional blessing before their meal that is dependent on the food that is to be served. Likewise, after the meal a specific grace is offered for the particular foods eaten, particularly in accordance with the seven food groups listed in Deuteronomy 8. No matter whether you give thanks before, after, or both, and no matter what you eat or drink…

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Can you choose to share that bounty of food with others? Do you give thanks for your food?

I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Don't tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there's nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don't feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. Romans 14:14-23 (Underlined for emphasis.)

Prayer – Lord, we focus on food—day and night. I want to refocus on to thinking, preparing, and eating Your food—Your very words. Guide my heart that I would feast wisely today…and every day.

Meditate. What are you eating? You are what you eat.

Verse of Salvation ~ But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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Banquet With The King

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Is All Food Good to Eat?

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