When speaking of food, adults usually are able to offer sound advice concerning diet. They know their choice of nourishment makes a great deal of difference in their physical health. Not nearly so many display equal wisdom in the care and feeding of their souls.
Perhaps the main reason for this is that soul-starvation is not always easily discernible.
If we deprive our bodies of their needed nutrition for but a few days, we soon note a lack of energy, poorer coordination, failing interest in work or play.
Yet there are uncounted thousands of people who have severed their "fuel lines" of spiritual energy, never going near a house of worship nor saying a prayer, let alone partaking of the blessing that comes when we mingle with those who are going through the struggles we are and talk about it in the context of worship. Yet they give every indication of being happy, healthy people.
This is Satan's grand deception, and Jesus well knew the danger of it. The Gospel according to John offers us a beautiful example of our dependence upon our Lord for food.
Once and for all, then, Jesus set them straight: "Moses didn't give it to them. My Father did. And now He offers you true Bread from heaven ... I am the Bread of Life.
No one coming to me will ever be hungry again ... I am that Living Bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread shall live forever." John 6:23, 35, 51.
- Albert Tilstra is a minister with the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Yerington and Silver Springs.