Nothing is as satisfying as a good meal when you’re hungry. Most of us are blessed to have full refrigerators and stocked pantries. It’s easy to grab a snack any time of the day the stomach growls.

But what about spiritual hunger?

Jesus said if we believe on Him and go to Him we would never go hungry, for He is the “bread of life.”

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” (John 6:35) 

Any time we find ourselves spiritually malnourished and wanting, we need only call upon Jesus and He will give us all we need.

It’s easy to feel “full” after a great spiritual experience—a church weekend, an inspiring sermon, Christian music, or an exciting time of seeing God at work—but do we mistakenly go on thinking radio broadcasts and big weekends alone will satisfy our hunger? 

Some, when spiritually hungry, quickly run to the phone to talk with a friend. Or, they try to feed their hunger with other things—time at the day spa or gym, chocolate, or some other relaxing or feel-good activity.

While all of these things may have value, none replace our need for daily time with the Master, the true “bread of life”. 

In the Old Testament, God had the children of Israel wander in the wilderness for forty years in order to learn to humble themselves, trust Him, and hear His voice. (Exodus 16, Nehemiah 9:15)

During this time, God rained manna (bread) from heaven every day to feed them. If they tried to save some of the bread for the next day it would go bad. They had to rely on God’s provision for physical bread one day at a time.

“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) 

Likewise they had to learn to seek and trust God daily to experience His presence and hear His voice. 

This record, being a model for Christ, corresponds with Jesus’ words after He was tempted in the wilderness for forty days:

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word [Greek = rhema: speaking] that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:1-4) 

Just as the children of Israel and the Son of God learned to rely on God for daily sustenance, our spiritual nourishment—through time in His Word and conversation with Him—like the manna, is something we must seek daily.

Jesus instructed His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Jesus is the bread of life. In His presence we will never go hungry.

Have you dined at the Lord’s table today?

Copyright © 2016 Cheryl Elton

The post The Bread of Life appeared first on Cheryl Elton.

Forty-five years ago this summer, man landed on the moon. What the media didn’t tell us on that historic occasion was that the first food eaten, and the first liquid poured on the moon were the communion elements of bread and wine. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin chose to commemorate the awe and wonder of the moon landing in a way he found personally meaningful—by partaking of Holy Communion.

He later wrote about the experience for Guideposts magazine saying:

“. . . Neil would give the signal to step down the ladder onto the powdery surface of the moon. Now was the moment for communion.

So I unstowed the elements in their flight packets. I put them and the scripture reading on the little table in front of the abort guidance system computer.

Then I called back to Houston. 

‘Houston, this is Eagle. This is the LM Pilot speaking. I would like to request a few moments of silence. I would like to invite each person listening in, wherever and whomever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his own individual way.’”

As the radio blacked out, Aldrin silently read two Bible passages that he had hand-written on a piece of paper:

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him? (Psalm 8:3,4)

And Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

He then took communion. He reflects in his memoir “. . . I could think of no better way to acknowledge the enormity of the Apollo 11 experience than by giving thanks to God.”

What would it be like to view planet Earth from the vantage point of the moon? How could one not be awestruck by the magnificence of our God?

Perhaps it would give us just a glimpse of God’s eternal perspective.

The next time you partake of communion—or sit down at a meal to eat and drink—remember with thanks that Jesus Christ paid the price with His life so that we could enjoy relationship with our Creator.

In light of eternity, life here on earth . . . time . . . what you are facing today . . . grows small.

Draw near to His presence.

For the One who is great is in you, and through Him you can do all things.

Copyright © 2014 Cheryl Elton

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