The Bread of Life

This past week our Sunday School class gathered to prepare boxes for "Operation Christmas Child." These are shoe boxes filled with toys, crayons, books, socks, toothbrushes, etc. to be sent around the world for children who are in need or otherwise would not receive anything for Christmas. The families, including the children, were encouraged to participate.

The class had decided to have lunch brought in and we had a time of fellowship before beginning to wrap and fill the boxes. During lunch I noticed one of the women holding her young child and rubbing her tummy. She said her daughter had a stomach ache. One minute later the child reached over to grab another bite of pizza and I heard her father say, "If your tummy hurts, you shouldn't be eating pizza." The child replied, "But daddy, I'm still hungry."

Her reply got me to thinking about how most people are. Without realizing it's spiritual hunger we have, we try to fill up on things of the world such as money, success, power or material things. We then find we're still not satisfied and though these things may cause us pain, we reach for more of the same.

1st Peter 1: v. 18 NIV "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life..."

In continuing to seek joy and fulfilment from what commercials, advertisements and society offers, you may find yourself still hungry and wanting more.

Psalm 103: v. 5 NIV "Who satisfies your desires with good things..."

We as Christians should be an example to others. When life brings difficulties and we fall short of the goals we've set, we may tend to fill empty. It is so important to make sure we are being filled with God's word so that others can see and be drawn to the bread of life.

John 6: v. 35 NIV 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."