“He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it. He gave it to His disciples.” (Mark 14:22)
Diets, diets, diets… so many to choose from, so few afford long term success. Should I go with a high protein diet, a fruit and vegetable diet, a carbohydrate diet, or perhaps the Blimpie diet? Each author of his diet book professes his particular diet will do the trick for you, and you will retain lasting results.
I began to think about the high carbohydrate diet as the minister gave his children’s sermon recently. He removed a variety of breads from a grocery sack, discussing each one with the children. There were hamburger buns, Ritz crackers, white bread and graham crackers. He discussed how often we eat these products daily, and tied in the fact that Jesus said “I am the Bread of Life”. Perhaps we should think of Jesus each time we eat these carbs. I began to think further, recalling the variety and types of bread products available. There are white, rye, whole grain, 7 grain, whole wheat, and pumpernickel breads. There are crackers and rolls galore- the grocery isle is full of them. I began to think how Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life”. There are so many varieties of bread, so how does this correlate with Jesus’ statement? I believe that Jesus lives in each Christian today, and we are all in His body. The variety of types of breads reminds me of the variety of denominations, the individual manner in which we worship, the diversity skin colors, and ethnic values within this body of Christ. God may use a person from one denomination or another to speak to my heart, to awaken my spirit, or to light my spiritual fire.
God also uses other means to feed us spiritually, and those ways remind me of the buns and crackers I saw this morning. Reading the Bible, attending worship services, going to Bible studies, and praying are a few of these methods.
Jesus’ spiritual carbohydrate diet is the one I know which will give us lasting sustenance. God is the author of this diet, and His Word comes to us in Holy Scripture.
I hope my own personal spiritual carbohydrate diet is filled with a variety of breads, rolls and crackers. I believe it is the way God wants it to be.
I will never look at the bread isle of the grocery store or put a bite in my mouth that I will not remember Jesus’ words… “I am the bread of life.”
I hope you will partake in this thought with me.
Marion Smith