Breaking Bread

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

– John 6:35

If you're like many folks, some of your fondest memories involve food. You might remember Thanksgivings with family whenever you smell the rich aroma of roast turkey and sweet potatoes. That unmistakable scent of hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy could take you back decades to a baseball game or your first State Fair. And maybe the sight of a homemade apple pie reminds you of the ones your grandmother used to bake when you'd come for a weekend visit.

Yes, food holds a powerful place in our lives. And not just because we need it to survive. There's something special — even joyful — about sharing a good meal with

family and friends. As Christ-followers, we remember our Savior's sacrificial death through Communion: a symbolic meal of bread and grape juice that reminds us of the last supper he shared with his disciples. The bread and juice represent how Christ's body was broken and his blood was shed for us.

While we're on the topic of food and its spiritual significance, did you know that there's a recipe for having a joy-filled, Christ-centered life?

The Bible tells us it's one part unity with other Christ-followers mixed with a measure of regular prayer. Then blend it well with a heaping helping of discernment: the ongoing intentional functions of living, thinking and acting constructively. It's all about habitually looking for the good and dwelling on the positive.

When we have lives that are filled with joy, we can stomach even the most unpleasant of circumstances. The apostle Paul exemplified this truth. He spent years in prison chained to his guards while under the constant threat of death. But Paul always prayed thankfully. And instead of feeling sorry for himself, he used his circumstances to change the lives of his fellow prisoners as well as his jailers — and all while writing much of what we today call the New Testament.

Are you hungry for some tasty joy in your life?

If you haven't done so already, the first step is to ask Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior. Those who grasp this opportunity become ones he calls the Salt of the Earth: the special people whose distinct flavor makes all the difference to an otherwise bland world that lacks hope and meaning.

It's an eternal truth we should never forget.