"The Bread of Life"

  "The Bread of Life"

 As I gave thanks for a meal recently, the thought occurred to me that the offering of gratitude constitutes the most important aspect of eating.

 "Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31).

  Genuine, heartfelt thanksgiving reveals our awareness that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).  Moreover, every bite of food ever consumed by the human race serves to reflect the greater spiritual truth of the Lord Jesus Christ as "the Bread of God… which cometh down from Heaven and giveth life unto the world" (John 6:33).  As we live by faith, we spiritually partake of Christ as the provision of our hearts, resulting in His life flowing into and through our minds, words, actions, and relatings to God and humanity.  "As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me" (John 6:57).  Such truth completely changes our understanding and concept of food and eating as we think in spiritual rather than carnal terms about this vital aspect of our physical life that points to the more vital aspect of our spiritual life in the Lord Jesus - "I am the Bread of life" (John 6:35).

    By God's wisdom and guidance, we must all find our way to eat and drink in a manner that best promotes both enjoyment and the health whereby we are enabled to "do all to the glory of God".  However, before the physical, we must focus on the spiritual.  We see God as the provider of our food, albeit through the sweat of the human brow (Acts 17:25; Genesis 3:19).  We choose to give thanks, again, recognizing the offering of gratitude as our most important function in eating.  And, we seek to consistently remember that the partaking of physical food points to the spiritual partaking of Christ as by faith we feast upon His love, presence, wisdom, understanding, guidance, and enabling to faith and faithfulness.  This is peace, particularly in a world that tempts us in countless ways regarding the matter of eating and drinking.  Indeed, eating and drinking do greatly matter, particularly when we emphasize the spiritual significance of the Bread of life…

"Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

(I Timothy 4:4-5).

Weekly Memory Verse

    Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

(Psalm 31:24)