Bread is the generic term for man’s food and sustenance. In Christ’s first temptation in the wilderness, He declared to the tempter, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
Our basic need to survive is the main target where Satan directs most of his temptations. However, the Lord’s assurance in Matthew 6:33 is that if we trust and seek Him first, all our necessities will be met because He is the Bread of Life.
As food is essential to the physical body, so is God’s Word essential to the well-being of the human spirit. The condition of the human spirit dictates the health of the mind and body, including all the areas of our lives.
Just as our bodies need food daily, our spirits also need spiritual food (God’s Word) every day. Many people have well-fed bodies with underfed, weak inner man. Eventually, the entire life will collapse. Having Jesus (Living Word) and God’s Word (Written Word) in our hearts continually will not only result in an everlasting life, but also in an abundant life (John 10:10).
One day, Jesus lamented that the multitudes who followed Him were more interested in the tangible bread He had supernaturally multiplied than the spiritual Bread for the spirit man. Then He revealed that He is the Bread from Heaven which gives Life to those who eat His flesh and drink His blood.
Christ was speaking metaphorically. To partake of Christ is to:
— believe and trust Him fully,
— meditate on His Word,
— appropriate promises in His Word,
— build character and the inner man with His Word,
— live by His Word.
Then, abundant life and eternal life will follow. There is no greater news than this.
Instead of being thrilled by what Christ had revealed, most of His followers were offended and “unfriended” Him. That day, Jesus lost His megachurch.
In the Holy Communion, we are partaking of the Lord’s flesh and blood symbolically. It serves to remind us to take both the Living and Written Word seriously, to make Jesus and His Word a great part of our lives.
The benefits of living by God’s Word are endless. The following are some of the Scriptures attesting to this wonderful truth:
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:2-3)
My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22)
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, (1 Peter 2:2)
Remember that whenever we read and meditate on God’s Written Word, the Living Word (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit are there to guide us. Feed on the Bread of Life daily and we’ll find His strength and power in every situation.
