We often take our children out to eat for their birthdays. On our last adventure out, we were discussing which restaurant, and the topic of going to the steakhouse was mentioned, but not for the steaks, they were excited about the fresh warm rolls that come to the table at the beginning of the meal. As we were talking about the restaurant, some of our friends heard where we were going and commented on how they would like some warm rolls and fresh butter. The thought of this bread brought a smile to their faces and a recollection of how good they were to their tastebuds.
This conversation got me thinking of the Word of God, more directly to the phrase, “bread of life”. We are told in scripture that Jesus is the bread of life and in John, we learn that the Word was made flesh, Jesus. So, when we dive into the scriptures we are feeding our souls. We are partaking of the very “Bread of Life”! Yet, we often fail to look at the privilege of reading and studying the Word as a blessing. We get more excited about a basket of rolls from the steakhouse.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. ... I am that bread of life. - John 6:35, 48
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. - John 1:14
For some odd reason, our imagery of the scriptures looks more like plain, dry toast rather than warm, dripping-with-butter, melt-in-your-mouth yeast rolls. We perceive the life-giving Word as a hardship to partake of rather than a blessing that fills us.
Every day we get the opportunity to feed our souls with the divine living Word of God. Words that can change us, uplift us, challenge us, and show us the way to glorify our Father, a word that is living and meeting us right where we are to guide us and fill us to the overflow, and yet….. we think it a hard thing to be in the Word.
For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. - Matthew 4:4
What if every morning we picked up the Bible and reminded ourselves that it is the bread of life? That our souls watered to be in the Word as our mouths do for those dinner rolls. What if rather than thinking of the Bible as dry toast that only sustains for the moment or when we are sick, we truly indulged in every word that proceeded from the mouth of God?
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. - Colossians 3:16
Our lives would be different! Studying the scriptures would change, it would be a blessing!
So, the next time you pick up your Bible to encounter the Lord, pause and redirect your thoughts from I need to or have to do this, to the joy of I get to! Allow the bread of life to fill you to the full and satisfy your soul.
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