It seems I have been on a steady weight gaining spree since my surgery in 2019.
Ever since my abdominal tumor, I get a little concerned when my belly is larger than it should be. So, I decided to start the Nutrisystem diet to help me eat healthier and motivate me to be more active.
April 18, 2021 was my first official day on the diet, and I woke up raring to go (for the most part haha)!
I made my normal, 80 calorie cup of coffee and logged into the app to start tracking my progress. See, I had been tracking my meals on another app and the coffee I tracked showed up as 80 calories, so that’s what I thought I was consuming every morning.
Well, this morning I happened to measure every bit of milk and cream I added to my cup. I was happy as a lark when I entered each individual item to my tracker. That is, until I saw what the calories actually added up to… uh oh, Definitely not 80. Imagine my surprise when I saw that they added up to a whopping 358 calories!
How could that have happened, I thought to myself? Even though I already knew the answer. When I searched out coffee on the previous app, I selected the type of coffee and added “cream” then moved on. Ignorance was bliss. I was happy thinking I was only taking in 80 calories in my super large cup of coffee.
Then my wheels started turning and I wondered what else I had “allowed” myself to be ignorant of. Specifically, I wanted to know... no I needed to know! Was there was anything I had allowed myself to be ignorant of in Christ’s Kingdom? Am I doing God’s will or am I doing my own will because of my ignorance? There are many people throughout the Scriptures who were ignorant of God’s will and only changed their ways after they understood their ignorance. One great man I can think of is the Apostle Paul.
Saul who later became known as the Apostle Paul, acted in ignorance when he persecuted Christians, (Acts 8:1-3). After he understood he was acting out of ignorance, he listened to the Lord, (Acts 9) and gave his life over to obedience to Christ. This only happened after he realized he had been so very wrong.
The Apostle Paul became a servant to Christ, was obedient to the gospel and he taught others about Christ any chance he got. He wanted the truth taught and he spoke out against false doctrine. Remember what he wrote to Timothy?
1 Timothy 1:3-17
3As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. 5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Could it be when it comes to matters of religion, when it comes matters of forgiveness and salvation, that we are like the Apostle Paul? Or are we more like Naaman in 2 Kings 5? Naaman thought things would go a certain way and was mad when things didn’t turn out like he thought they would. His ignorance of God caused him to turn away, mad.
Could it be that we have the same mindset, that Naaman displayed? When it comes to the matter of our own Salvation have we said: “behold, I thought”, (2 Kings 5:11).
Could it be that we, like Naaman, are in ignorance of God’s will? If so, what are you gonna do about it?
I was ignorant of how many calories I was intaking by drinking my big ole cup of coffee every morning. Now that I know, I will take steps to change it. I have bought low fat creamer and milk and will try to drink a smaller amount every morning.
If you are not a Christian, you have time and opportunity to become one! You can take steps to change it. You have time and opportunity if you are reading this. Don’t wait until it is too late! Don’t be one of the many on judgement day that continued in ignorance or one that says, “Behold, I thought”. Be obedient to God’s will today. Don’t delay! Let us work together to build up the Lord’s Kingdom!
1. Hear the Gospel. (Romans 10:17, John 8:32)
2. Believe the Gospel (Hebrews 11:6, John 20:31)
3. Repent of past sins (Luke 13:3, Acts 17:30)
4. Confess faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:10, Matthew 10:32)
5. Be Baptized (Galatians 3:27, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)
6. Be faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10)
In Christian Love,
Leah Brewer
