From the desk of Pastor Ben
Appropriating The Bread of Life

“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats
of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I give
for the life of the world is my flesh.”         (John 6:51)

Here, Jesus uses the simple analogy of daily eating to suggest 5 parallels to appropriating spiritual truth.

First, like uneaten food, spiritual truth is useless if not taken in (Hebrews 4:2). Merely knowing truth without applying it is worse than not knowing it at all — in fact, it results in more severe judgement (Luke 12:47-48).

Second, those who are full are not interested in eating, even as those who are slaves of sin have no appetite for spiritual truth (Luke 6:21). But when people realize they’re lost, the desire for forgiveness, deliverance, and peace drives them to embrace the truth of the heavenly Bread.

Third, physical food becomes a part of your body through digestive process. Likewise, when a person appropriates Christ by faith, he or she becomes one with Him (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17).

Fourth, the actual act of eating implies trust that the food is safe and edible. In the same way, eating the Bread of Life implies believing in Jesus.

Fifth and finally, there is no such thing as eating by proxy; neither is there salvation by proxy. Sinners must individually and personally take hold of the Bread of Life to obtain salvation (John 6:58; 8:51; Romans 8:13). Psalm 49:7 says, “No man can by any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom for him.”

Ask Yourself:
How often do you find yourself merely observing Jesus, merely talking about Jesus, merely referring to Jesus — but not participating with Jesus, not letting Him become a part of your bone and marrow, your heart and soul, your reason for getting up in the morning?