Spiritually Hungry Christians
11th October 2008
I meet many people who call themselves Christians and yet seem to be restless, unsatisfied, unfulfilled people. And I meet many Christians who seem to have settled for less than what Jesus promised, and are trying to be comfortable with a sub-Christian lifestyle.
Jesus promised:
John 10v10
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
So why is it that so many of us find being Christians so unsatisfying? Why does a life with God seem to be so much less wonderful than the Bible seems to promise?
Well, we can be sure that the problem with our relationship with God is not His fault. So what adjustment do we need to make?
Jesus promised us that:
John 6v35
..."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"
Jesus is our spiritual food. He is always enough. If we feed on Him, we will NEVER be hungry.
But we feed on TV, on sport, or holidays, on our career, on the illusion of financial security. The more religious among us feed on Christian books, on conferences, on Christian music, on particular preachers. All of this is good, of course, but it's not the same thing as feeding on Jesus, in the same way that reading a menu is good, but it's not as good as eating the meal.
It seems that we would do almost anything rather than actually get down to prayer and Bible study. We rather read articles about feeding on Jesus (such as this one) than actually feed on Him.
Jesus saved us so that we could have a relationship with Him. Not just head knowledge - knowing about Him, but relationship - knowing Him. Not just buying recipe book, but eating. Not just studying theory, but experiencing reality.
Jesus went on to say:
John 6v53-58
... "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in
you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because
of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this
bread will live for ever."
Life! Real life! Abundant life!
Truth! Reality! Eternity!
All ours, if we feed on Jesus Himself.
And remember:
Matthew 11v28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Come to Him. Accept no substitute.