Are you hungry?
Is your spirit longing for sustenance?
The most “spiritual” food is literally called “manna” which God sent down from heaven. Literally. This was captured in writing that we read in the Old Testament in God’s written Word, the Bible. God’s people were wandering in a desert, lost, in more ways than one, for 40 years. They were looking for the promised land God told them about. But they couldn’t find it. God prevented them, because there were things they needed to learn in their time of struggle. They needed to learn to call on God for their every need. Needs big and small, that only God could provide. Most never really learned the lessons, and many died there in the wilderness without ever finding The Way.
I don’t know about you, but i’d probably be complaining like they did. Begging God for better. And God answered their prayers and cries. But soon they got sick of eating this bread. Can you believe it? This miracle bread from heaven? They found a reason to complain about it. But God is gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness. They got tired of bread. They cried out for more; for better. God did not lash out for their lack of gratitude. Instead, he answered, and this time, sent quail. Meat. There’s more to that story, but let’s focus there.
I think of bread. We need it to survive. Its our food, day to day. Physically, our body would shut down without proper food.
And then i think of the spiritual kind of bread. Nourishment that satisfies our soul at the deepest level. We need it to thrive and function and persevere in this world, and beyond—to experience eternal life in heaven.
Jesus says:
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you…Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
“Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered….47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.”
Jesus proclaims: “48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” John 6:25-51
Have you eaten the bread? The bread that gives life? Our spiritual food.
“Man can not live on bread alone, but every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
Will you partake? He offers this bread to every single person. All it requires is acceptance. Believe, and you will be saved; and well nourished.