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MY PORTION
by Jerry Ousley I didn't feel like I was getting what I had paid for. Yep, here I go talking about food again. I'm a healthy eater. There are two definitions of the term "healthy eater;" the old fashioned version and the modern version. The modern version defines someone who moderately eats all the right foods staying away from high sugar content, high sodium, lots of calories and trans-fats. The old fashioned version simply defined someone who ate a lot without regard to these other things. By choice I fall into the old fashioned category. There's a much larger selection of foods to choose from and frankly they just taste better. That's why I was so disappointed and didn't feel like I got what I paid for. We were eating at a new restaurant that sported a reputation for good food. It wasn't cheap but from past experience that told me that the portion of food would be a good one. My mouth was all set for that wonderfully delightful taste of shrimp scampi. I envisioned a very large bowl for the price I was paying and they couldn't bring it to me quick enough; why, with what my wife had ordered (which was a moderate selection I might add) they would probably need to bring out two trays! But they didn't. In fact the waitress didn't even have a tray. Instead she carried a plate in each hand; one for Debbie and one for me. And they weren't even that big! I looked at my plate then up at Debbie and she knew exactly what was going on in my head. I didn't complain. I ate what was set before me and made myself thank the Lord for it. We'd definitely be going for ice cream somewhere afterwards because there was no way this little bit of food was going to fill me up! When she brought the bill I had to swallow real hard, but I paid for it and racked it up to experience. To date we've never eaten there again. Oh the food tasted alright; it was good. But they certainly made sure that you didn't get too much of a good thing! In talking about portions I'm reminded of a verse of scripture found in Lamentations 3:24. It says, "'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I hope in Him!'" The phrase "my portion" could also be interpreted as "my share." I can tell you right off the bat that the LORD is all the portion and share a man could ever want. Defining the word "portion" we could first say that it is "a section or quantity within a larger thing; a part of a whole." God is our part of the whole. Most of us haven't taken our entire portion of God. There is so much more to what He has for us. We may think that we have a right to something greater but how simple and how satisfied we can be if we just take God as our portion. A "portion" is "a part that is allotted to a person or group." God is our allotment in life here and after, to us as individuals and to the group the Church. A "portion" is "a person's lot or fate." God is our lot in life and He is our fate! Oh what a fate it is! A "portion" is "a proportion belonging to or dealt out to one." What has He dealt out to us? He has dealt out Himself and all that He is. What more could we ask for? A "portion" is "a right or legal share in something, such as an interest in, a claim to, a concern, a cut, a stake, an investment, a holding, a partial ownership, or a title." God, as our portion is our inheritance. We don't need things, lands, or monies because in reality all we need is found in Him and He is all we need. A "portion" is "an amount allocated to an individual for a service." He is our portion for our service. Our service to God is only a reasonable service as the Bible says. It is merely what should be expected from us. But because of His great love for us He chooses to reward us anyway. Belonging to Him should be all we expect. Even if that's how we feel, still He will reward us greatly. Is God your portion? He certainly is whether we acknowledge it or not. But we'll never know about it unless we seek Him. Why don't you open your Bible, pray to God and make Him your portion today? Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |