AXIOM
•Feeding our spiritual lives
•Broken bread and poured out wine
•Sustaining power from God
Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher Oswald Chambers would say Christians must be willing to let God use whatever comes out of their lives to feed and strengthen others spiritually.
He would say to be “broken bread and poured out wine.” To participate in the communal act of “eating and drinking” bread and wine is an act of being self-giving. And that act gives strength and sustenance.
Before the crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples that He would die and resurrect three days later. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were required to offer an animal sacrifice to the temple priest as atonement for sin–for their acts that separated them from God, including breaking the religious laws.
God promised He would send a living sacrifice as atonement for their sins. Jesus made the bold claim that He is the atoning sacrifice sent from God. The disciples did not understand this, so Jesus gave them something to participate in to help them understand.
And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Luke 22:19-20 (NIV) Jesus was telling the disciples that if I am to be fed, I am to be sustained by Jesus.
Often overlooked throughout the Bible is the way food gives strength.
Bread is synonymous with food in general. Chambers said, “Continually go back to the fountain of your affections and recollect where the source of power is.” That is to go back to what will give your life and strength.
In John 6:35, Jesus said He is the bread of life. By Jesus equating Himself with bread, He is saying He is essential for life. Jesus is what gives life; He is the bread of life. He is the spiritual nourishment that feeds us. Jesus also said that we do not live on bread alone but on the word of God. And oftentimes after Jesus resurrected people, He suggested they eat food.
Life-sustaining power does not come strictly from ourselves. It comes from the act and picture of Jesus’ atonement. We are to reflect the act of Jesus breaking bread and pouring wine to participate in communion, while also spiritually being broken bread and poured out wine to others. We show the love of Christ by giving spiritual strength and sustenance to others. It may point out our need for spiritual strength and sustenance from Jesus. If we are spiritually starving, then we are not experiencing the life-sustaining power of Jesus.
At times, we may have a season when we feel more fed and sustained by a few “spiritual foods” than by others.
When practicing communion, take time to reflect on what is feeding your spiritual life, what is draining it and what may be starving you that you need nourishment for?
What spiritual “foods” do I need most to feel nourished?
We forget to ask, what do I like about Jesus? And how effective am I for Jesus today?
•God's word: Consuming God's word to sustain our faith.
•Prayer: We get God; that's what we have. This is how we talk to Him and how we can see how He works in our daily lives.
•Communion: Participating in the act of being with God through eating bread and drinking wine. This is what God promised us and by this we can trust in His strength and sustenance.
•Worship: Expressing gratefulness for His provision and work in our lives.
•Praise: Lifting God up through music, beauty or poetry.
•Fellowship: Being in a relationship with others by participating in these spiritual acts together.
•Community: Eating and doing life together.
•Wisdom: Being obedient to God's word and what He says.
•Love: To participate in being self-giving towards others.
•Meditation: Talking to ourselves like David did throughout the Psalms. Thinking thoughts that are pure and pleasing to God.
•Service: Humility practices, like washing people's feet, cooking a meal or acting in service to another.
•Ministry: Preaching the gospel and participating in the work of God.
•Other spiritual practices: Other ways we participate in giving strength and sustenance to others, such as baptism, hospitality, grounding and journaling,
•Food: Feeds our physical bodies and can be used in remembering God’s sustaining power.
Jesus, I am sustained by You. You are the Bread of Life. Help me to be sustained by You each day and to use whatever comes of my life to feed and strengthen others.
I reflect on what is feeding my life or where I need more nourishment.
As I reflect on communion, I remember what You have done to give life
and strength.
Amen ✲
