No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.

The human body is an amazing living operating system. Not surprising, since God designed it. It has a process for removing toxins, fighting disease, healing itself, and growing strong to maturity. God made food for us to eat. And how much and the type of food we put into our bodies will determine, in large part, our health. If we eat only food processed by man, then we will, in all likelihood, become unhealthy. When we eat real food, grown and harvested as God provided, we tend to thrive. Now some people are allergic to certain types of food. If they eat them or even smell them they might have a bad reaction or even die.

In a similar fashion, we feed our minds, spirits, and souls as well. What we watch, read, sing, dwell on and actively participate in can either be healthy for us or hurtful. And for each of us there are certain activities that place us in a position of weakness and the temptation to sin is strong. We need to be aware, like a food allergy, and guard against putting ourselves in sin’s way.

Jesus focuses here on the eyes. When we take in good things with our eyes, place ourselves in places to serve God and others, watch him work, see the truth in his Word (the Bible) and search and look for goodness in this life, we have light in our eyes. But when we fill our minds and hearts with evil practices, selfishness, bitterness, anger, rage, greed, lust, etc. then we have eyes that reflect darkness. Just like putting bad food into our physical bodies and reaping the results: poor health, obesity, laziness, and a lack of mental clarity, so too, bad spiritual food that is input into our minds and hearts will give us a destructive way of thinking. Our eyes will become darkened.

Our goal, as Jesus followers, is to allow God’s Spirit to remove the darkness by confessing it, repenting (or turning from it), and replacing it with the disciplined diet of feasting on God’s Word, prayer and a life of service to him. Then the light in our eyes will shine brightly for all to see. Eating healthy requires discipline. Living a godly life requires discipline too.

Lord, may you continue to teach me how to be disciplined in my approach to feeding myself spiritually and to partake of the good things you have stored up for those who love you and are called according to your purpose! “How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭19‬)