And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15

It was Alexander Wolcott, theater critic of The New Yorker magazine, who said, "Everything I like is either illegal, immoral, or fattening."

It appears many food service directors in our nation's public schools think their children agree with the last of Wolcott's preferences. Like Wolcott, they like fattening food over good food. The healthier food the schools are serving is mandated by new government regulations.

To be sure, there are school systems that report they have survived the initial reaction of their children who, having examined their hot lunch and without trying or tasting anything, pronounce a verdict, which sounds something like, "Eccch! What is that stuff doing on my plate?"

In respect to these future voters, it appears Congress may, sometime this summer, offer our nation's schools the opportunity to opt out of the healthy school lunch program. Our legislators know it is easier to change the law than it is to change the palates and preferences of children.

If that is what Congress is thinking, for the most part the Lord would agree. The centuries have shown our Triune God that people regularly pass over that which is good for them for that which is unhealthy.

Just a few quick examples come to mind: the Lord gave the perfect couple, Adam and Eve, a perfect home and a perfect Garden. He told them, "Eat anything you want, but don't nibble on the fruit from this tree" (see Genesis 2:15-17). You don't have to be a licensed psychologist to guess that they ignored God's order and ate from the tree whose fruit they thought more delectable.

Then there were the Children of Israel. As they moved into the Promised Land, the Lord gave this instruction: "Enjoy this place, but I don't want you to follow other gods, and I don't want you to marry any of those Canaanite girls." You can ask Samson what happened with that command. (See Judges 13-16).

Still, I suppose the greatest ongoing disappointment the Lord experiences is watching humanity reject Jesus. Through His life, sacrifice, suffering and death, the Lord Jesus has offered us forgiveness of sins, a listening ear, the promise of peace, a guarantee of His ongoing presence, and an eternity in heaven. And what do people do with the Savior's offer? Too often they thumb their noses and follow this, that, and just about anything, which appeals to their fancy.

Right now their choices are a disappointment to the Lord. On Judgment Day the rejection of the Christ will be an everlasting regret for those Savior-less souls.

This is why, to the best of our efforts, you, your church, and Lutheran Hour Ministries continue to point people to the Christ. When they someday stand before the Creator, we don't want these folks to say, "Everything I ever liked was illegal, immoral, or fattening."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, keep me in the faith which You have freely given me, and let Christians show to the world the joy that is found in Jesus. In His Name I ask it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: 1 Kings 3-4    Proverbs 1    John 19:1-22

To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"