Which "Dog" Will You Feed?

This past weekend at our fall festival they had a cute game called 'feeding time'.

You had to throw a bean bag and try to get it through the small hole-"feeding the animal".

When we have real animals we have to feed them in order for them to grow. We all know what would happen if we didn't feed them. They would grow weak and smaller and eventually they would die from starvation. It reminded me of an illustration that I once heard,

An old American Indian tale recounts the story of a chief who was telling a gathering of young braves about the struggle within. "It is like two dogs fighting inside of us," the chief told them. "There is one good dog who wants to do the right and the other dog always wants to do the wrong. Sometimes the good dog seems stronger and is winning the fight. But sometimes the bad dog is stronger and wrong is winning the fight."

"Who is going to win in the end?" a young brave asks.

The chief answered "The one you feed."

This is so true. As we live one day at a time, we will have choices put before us continually. How we choose tells a lot about ourselves. When we accept Christ as our personal Savior we have made a choice. We become a 'new man' and we are supposed to change from the 'old man'.

Colossians 3:9-10

" Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him."

Ephesians 4:22-24

"that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."

It doesn't happen automatically and there isn't anything magic about it. It takes commitment and consistency.

Whatever we "feed" grows stronger. So, if we live for ourselves and focus on earthly things then that is what will be important to us. If we want to live for Christ then dwell in His Word and spend time in prayer.

Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

Matthew 16:26

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Seek the Lord and 'feed the new man' so that you will grow to be more like Christ.

Matthew 6:33

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."