Imitation Crab Meat

Background Story: The Psalms were written as personal prayers and praises to God.

Read Psalms 63:1-8

You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.

²I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.
³Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
⁴I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
⁵I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

⁶On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
⁷Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
⁸I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

Big Idea: Don’t settle for fake imitations but hunger and thirst after God.

So in 1975, these two guys, Sugino and Osaki decided to invent imitation crab meat which according to Google is, “a highly processed food made by combining minced fish with starch, egg whites, sugar, salt and additives to mimic the flavor, color and texture of real crab meat.” I guess their goal in creating this culinary masterpiece was to make something that looked like crab but was a lot cheaper. If you haven’t had a chance, go take yourself a BIG BITE and you will realize…it’s nothing like the real thing.

Imitation. There are so many things out there claiming to satisfy and complete our hearts. Whether it’s imitation love, acceptance, purpose, joy, or peace… they all promise to be just as good. But in the end they are no better than fake crab and we are always left hungry for something more.

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus preached, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Satisfied. We were made BY GOD and FOR GOD. Because of this, no imitation will ever satisfy us but Him. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35)

Today, take time to pray and ask God to increase your hunger and thirst for Him. Refuse to settle for fake imitations but pursue the One who created us and can satisfy our soul!

Bible Devotions for Teens