Soul Food

Think of “Soul Food” and you are reminded of delicious fried chicken, collard greens, and mashed potatoes. However, the type of food I am referring to can’t be found on the Food network. We are alluding to God’s Word, food for the soul. We became children of God by studying the Bible, and here we want to take it a step further. “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:32 NKJV  Jesus spoke this right after He fed the five thousand, and the crowds continued to follow Him hoping to get something else to eat. Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” John 6:33 NKJV

 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 NKJV  Jesus is the Word of God. When He spoke these words the Bible was not available to the many people around Him that day. Now we have the “Perfect Law of Liberty” whereby we can go to the Word of God and study it on a daily basis. The people of Jesus’ time did not believe Him, just as many people do today. They say He is a great teacher, or a prophet from God, but they do not believe. Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:38-40 NKJV

  If you are reading this article it is because our heavenly Father has drawn you to Christ. You heard the word of God and you have moved toward the knowledge of Christ. You have been called to become a son or daughter of God. Many hear and do not respond to the call. The world and its lust distract most of us from the knowledge of the Word. We are taught by God, and everyone who has heard from the Father comes to Christ. Those of us who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God have everlasting life. Jesus is the bread of life that comes down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, or believes in the word of God, Christ will give His flesh, which is for the life of the world.

  Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven…He who eats this bread will live forever.” John 6:53-58 NKJV  Before you turn away like so many others have let me explain what Jesus meant.

Whoever eats My flesh is an unbelievably beautiful metaphor. In the beginning was the Word, Jesus Christ… and the Word became flesh. Instead of consuming actual flesh for the body we are consuming the “Bread of Life” for the soul. By doing so the flesh, or the Word of God, becomes part of us. It is not enough to say that we have read the Bible. We have to consume it, devour every word and make it a part of us. By doing so we are transformed from the natural creature we once were into a living, breathing minister for Christ. His identity assumes us in His character and behavior.  This is the essential  nature of a metaphor, and it describes the act of faith beautifully.

Whoever drinks My blood is a metaphor for receiving and accepting the sacrifice Christ made for us on the cross. He is the Lamb that was sacrificed at Passover. The lamb’s blood was painted on the sides and over the top of the door to protect those who were inside from evil. The blood of Jesus protects us from the judgement of God because all of us have sinned and fallen short of the threshold God would allow. The wages of our sins is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. His blood covers us like a blanket so our heavenly Father cannot see our sins. Because of Christ’s sacrifice our sins are forgiven.

  I have come to believe and know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. I cannot begin to tell you how He has changed me over the last 20 years. So many Christians remain babies in Christ and refuse to eat the meat and drink the blood of the Word of God. His power and understanding are there waiting for you to consume the flesh of Christ. Please don’t let another day go by where you ignore your studies. Your life, your family’s life, and your friend’s lives are at stake. Don’t be satisfied with being a baby when you can be a minister of God.