It sounds preposterous when we ask for what is food and drink. Food and drink are for our sustenance. Physical food and drink satisfy the body, spiritual food and drink satisfy the soul. The body is a material element; the soul is spiritual. We satisfy the soul by our good deeds of love, holiness and faith because of Christ Jesus. Physical food and drink differ from spiritual food and drink.
What is spiritual food and drink?
It is unconditional love towards the needy or a stranger because of Christ. John 6: 55-56 says for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood bide in me, and I in them. Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 8: 3 said in Matthew 4: 4; Luke 4: 4 one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Food and drink is the word of God, and made flesh in Christ Jesus. Just as we are mindful of the body, so must we be of the soul.
Christ Jesus asked in Matthew 6: 25, is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Jesus drew a contract between natural food and divine food. Life is not only sustained by normal food. What sustains life is beyond physical food. The body needs more than material things because it has a spiritual element to it. The soul also needs more than food and drink. Romans 14: 17 says the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Who provides spiritual food and drink?
What we find with gods etc. are not true spiritual food and drink. Only God provides true spiritual sustenance. 2 Corinthians 9: 8 says God is able to provide with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. Jesus commands us to show kindness. Luke 6: 38 says give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. Ephesians 3: 20 says Jesus is able to accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine.
Jesus said in Matthew 25: 35-46, I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me… just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. To another group Jesus said… just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. God converts our kindness to spiritual sustenance.
When must we share spiritual food and drink?
Hebrews 13: 1-2 says let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. It must not be grudgingly. 2Corinthians 9: 7 says each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Every love and kindness shown to another because of Christ Jesus reflects how much we want to share Jesus in our hearts. It is spiritually satisfying to always share the love of Jesus with others.
Just as we cannot hate our bodies, so can we not starve our souls. Ephesians 5: 29-30 say for no one ever hates his own body, but tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. Our nourishment from Jesus is not physical, but righteousness beyond the physical body just as Christ Jesus fed his church. 1Peter 2: 2 says like newborn infants, long for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation. Spiritual food, which is the word of God, is what will save the soul in eternity. How are we feeding our souls as we journey towards eternity?
How do we treat food and drink?
Philippians 3: 19 says their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. Some of us cannot do without food and drink for any moment. Jesus said of the rich fool in Luke 12: 20 you fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? Food has become our indispensable god. May our food and drink be what will nourish our souls and qualify us for eternity with Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, may you forever be our food and drink for the peace of our souls. Help us not to be mindful of only the body but the soul. Feed us daily with your word for our spiritual growth. May our love never grow cold for you. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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