Enjoying A Plate Full!

As soon as I preach a sermon I begin focusing on the next. As soon as I teach a Bible class lesson I know I have the next one for which to prepare. As soon as I send out a “teEn-MAIL” focus I know I must begin considering the next. It seems my mind is continually aiming toward the next lessons to study, thus I can never say I am finished. Please don’t think I’m complaining. Though there have been times through my years of ministry when I’ve thought how nice it would be to have a job where I could walk away feeling I had completed the work, there is still truly nothing I would rather be doing than the work I am doing now. There are times I feel my plate could not get any fuller, but oh what a FEAST OF JOY keeps coming my way.

Have you ever eaten a wonderful meal that satisfied your hunger pangs, yet still found yourself looking forward to the next? I remember an elderly brother in a congregation where I preached a number of years ago who following a church potluck would quite often say, “Well, that will do me if I have an early dinner.” Full, but still looking forward to the next OPPORTUNITY TO FEAST.

How close do we get to feeling this way with regard to God’s Word? Do we read and FEAST UPON THOSE DIVINE TRUTHS and come away with eager anticipation of the next meal? Have we ever opened The Book and read a planned portion of Scripture and then decided to enjoy a second helping?

When Jesus had been fasting in the wilderness for forty days and nights it is no surprise the Scriptures tell us He was hungry. ( Matthew 4:2) However, when the devil tried to tempt Jesus to use His power to turn stones to bread, what did our Lord pointed out as the important thing to remember?

We read…
“But he answered, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ ’ ” ( Matthew 4:4 ESV)

Yes, we need physical food to sustain our body. We would die without it. The food we eat helps us to exist, but there is something beyond that which helps us to truly live. We need the Word of God as an essential part of our meal plan.

After Jesus had fed the five thousand with the loaves and fish the people continued to flock to Him. But why? What was the motivation for seeking Him out? Jesus verbalized the reason some were continuing to seek Him was because they had eaten their “fill of the loaves.” ( John 6:26)

Jesus then exhorted…
“Do not LABOR for the food that perishes, but FOR THE FOOD THAT ENDURES TO ETERNAL LIFE, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” ( John 6:27 ESV)

We need some of the food that perishes. Bread is the staff of life. However, we most of all need to put forth the effort to gain the FOOD THAT ENDURES TO ETERNAL LIFE! Jesus went on to refer to Himself as the “Bread of Life” ( John 6:35) with the power to truly satisfy our greatest hunger. May we eagerly take advantage of every OPPORTUNITY FOR SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT. Here there is no need to count calories or carbs because what comes from God is all heart healthy soul food.

Have a great day ENJOYING A HEAPING HELPING OF CHRIST CENTERED CUISINE!
Carl

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