Soul Food

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

-- John 6:35

What's your idea of a great meal? 

For some folks it's steak, potatoes and salad that hit the spot. Others love pizza, Vietnamese or seafood. And let's not forget those who crave vegetarian. 

People's tastes and taste buds vary, but it's their hungers that unite them. However, there's another kind of appetite that has nothing to do with cheeseburgers and ice cream. It's the spiritual hunger that's hard-coded into our DNA. Inside, everyone has a gnawing desire to fill a gaping internal void. Some try in vain through negative pursuits involving drugs, alcohol, compulsive spending or gambling. Others attempt to fill it through their jobs or by escaping reality with social media, television, video games or even travel. But after the thrill is gone, the hunger always returns. And there's never any satisfaction.

Jesus addressed this universal dilemma by proclaiming (and proving) himself to be the "food" that everyone craves. When we accept him as our Lord and Savior and become Christ-followers, his spirit resides within us. And then he begins to fulfill our lives when we're willing to ask, listen and obey.

It turns out, however, that a little spiritual hunger isn't a bad thing. In fact, we all need to have drive--a certain level of intensity--to continue developing as Believers. That's because the old adage is true: Life is more about the journey than the destination. Our Creator has so much for us to see, experience and comprehend during our brief existence on Earth. How boring would life be if we've seen and done it all, and already know the answers?

Unfortunately, too many Christ-followers experience stunted spiritual growth because they lack this intensity to continue seeking meaning in their lives. The solution is to make the most of the people, places and situations that God puts before us every day. Meanwhile, we must continue our development through regular Bible study, prayer, worship, Gel Group participation and other positive habits. After all, there's nothing like a good workout to whet your appetite--and then satisfy it with food for the soul.