living Food

Just to be clear, no, I have not eaten live fish or live bugs or wiggling worms. Wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea. Ok. Moving on.

I like food. I like flavor. I often tell people that half the reason I'm excited to go anywhere is the food. I like different kinds of food. If it's got a great, vibrant flavor, I'm all over it.

Then I read a devotional where the author wrote about being physically overweight but spiritually undernourished. Then I read this passage: John 6:53-69 (source; emphasis and colors added)

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, 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 feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on 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 whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Together with what I had read and reading this passage, I wanted to share my thoughts with you.

Have you ever felt empty, but you're not sure why? You have anything and everything you could want or need. Once you realize you don't actually need that new shirt or new gadget or new car, what else is there? Your daily needs are provided for. You have clothes that keep you warm and food that keeps you fed. Relationships, as wonderful as they are and as much as we are created for them, are still imperfect and will let you down at times.

So how do you become filled? Surely this emptiness is not meant to be permanent?

My friend, if these feelings or thoughts have ever crossed your mind, then here is what I have to say to you. That emptiness most definitely is not meant to be permanent, but. But there is only one thing that can truly and fully fill it. Living Food. Jesus.

Maybe this is a riddle to you. Maybe this passage strikes you as cannibalistic and you are questioning my sanity. I assure you I am of sound mind. I can't give you a psychologist's guarantee, unfortunately, but I am definitely thinking clearly.

I don't mean to deliver "Christianese" or speak in a fashion that is confusing. The clearest way I can think to explain this is that your soul needs to be fed as much as your physical body needs to be fed. Beyond good-feeling, fuzzy stories, your soul is designed for more. It is designed to be fed by Him who created your soul.

This is an egg and chorizo torta from Frontera
at the Chicago airport. Other than being a yummy
 food,it's a teaser for posts to come about my trip!
Stay tuned!

This isn't a one and done deal either. I mean, how many people have eaten once in their lifetime and lived very long to tell about it? Probably none. No, you need to eat every day. You and your soul.

So if you are feeling empty, consider this new, healthy, invigorating, life giving diet. Where eating more doesn't cause you to be overweight or obese. As the food is used in your life, so you will need more and life and fullness will overflow through you from the Source.

If you'd like to know more about Living Food, we can talk about it! I don't want you to feel empty! Just let me know!