Daily Devotional

As I write this, I am on my second stretch of waiting to have a pacemaker put in. Because of COVID, what was a three-month wait has become of five-month wait.

While waiting I prayerfully planned a way for myself to stay out of atrial flutter, and out of the emergency room. This involved a number of things, including watching out for too much stress and being careful about physical exertion. But it also involved chocolate!

Dark chocolate is one of my loves. I have chosen to have no caffeine, which includes abstaining from all chocolate, and even decaf coffee! No Kahlúa on my ice cream!

Does God care about such trivial, worldly delights? Would it bother Him if I had to deny myself of something so simply sensual as chocolate, or coffee? I think He cares. He made all foods for us to enjoy (James 1:16–17). He delights when we delight in what He has given us.

Yes, there is a time for fasting. There is a place for self-denial. But the pleasures of the world—eating, drinking, music, beauty—are given us for our blessing, by God. Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. It is all made holy by the word of God and prayer. He is not calling us to forbid marriage or telling us to abstain from foods to be saved (1 Timothy 4:1–5).

Does Jesus care about such things for us? Yes, He cares about both the big things and the little pleasures, like chocolate.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6–7 NASB

We humble ourselves under Him, under His mighty hand, knowing He cares for us. He gave us life, and the world to live in. Marriage and children and jobs and simple pleasures. He delights when we delight in what He has given us, and acknowledge it. When we struggle and suffer, when we are in need, we cast our cares on Him. Why? Because He cares for us!

As we humble ourselves, He exalts us. And in that place of blessing from God, He might very much care if you never had chocolate again. He cares for you!

Read: I Timothy 4:1–5, James 1:16–17, Ecclesiastes 5:18–20, 10:7–9
Sing: Does Jesus Care?, by Frank E. Graeff, or He Careth for You, by Harry D. Clarke

"New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation"