Earlier this month, my wife, Pam, and I visited Glacier National Park in Montana. Each day, as we prepared to go out and wander the trails of the park we had two top priorities in our preparation: 1) What food and drink would we need on the trail and where would we eat dinner when we were done, and 2) To not get eaten by a grizzly bear! :0

Our physical bodies need food and water to survive. In my last post we talked about the two words that the Greek uses for life: bios (physical life) and zoe (essence of life). The Scriptures tell us that while our bodies need fuel to sustain our physical existence, we as human beings need sustenance—food that feeds our whole self.

One day, while the disciples and Jesus were traveling together, a huge crowd came together that was very hungry. Jesus miraculously fed over 5000 people. Amazing! The next day, Jesus explained to the disciples that the miracle was a lesson that had much greater implication than the filling of all those stomachs. He said,

“‘For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’

‘Sir,’ they said, ‘from now on give us this bread.’

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: 33-35 NIV)

Basically, Jesus said, you can fill your stomach with bread like what I gave to the people yesterday, but there is bread from God that will keep you full forever—I’m that Bread!

While Pam and I could plan and prepare to not go hungry on the trails of Glacier National Park, it is only Jesus who can give us life. Life in this world is not meant to be biological and fueled by the number of calories of food we eat each day. Real life is fueled by our relationship with God, and with His Son Jesus—the Bread of Life.

Where do you try to find nourishment for your soul?
How long does that filling last normally?

In the next couple of posts we’ll talk about ways to stay nourished in the depths of our beings.