Food without additives
by David Cross
I was recently reading an article by a leading Christian commentator who clearly believes that there’s a great spiritual hunger now, right across the nation of Britain. He believes that this hunger’s set to increase as financial difficulties and other hardships intensify. However, he cautioned that hungry people will sometimes eat anything that’s offered.
Joseph was called to be a distributor of food at a time of severe famine. It’s significant that he was a man who, over many years, had learned to listen to the voice of God and follow it. In the New Testament, we find that one day when Jesus was teaching, He specifically instructed His disciples to give out loaves and fishes to a hungry multitude. Today we desperately need those who are ready to distribute good spiritual food, but there’s a need for all of us to be careful.
Walking around a supermarket, it’s very normal these days to see people studying the food labels to check for unhealthy additives, included to enhance flavour or colour, but not to improve nutritional value. Jesus tells us that the best spiritual food is Himself. When we teach or share the truth of God’s Word with those who’re hungry, we need to be sure that we’re distributing the pure Bread of Life. Because of our wounded past and sinful nature, it’s so easy to let unhelpful additives slip in, additives which reflect more of our character than that of Jesus. We may think that the flavour has been improved, but if the purity has been spoiled then we are putting our hearers at risk.
No one but Jesus speaks perfect truth, but we should encourage one another to ‘read the label’ at every Christian meeting to make sure that we’re distributing or receiving spiritual food with as few unhealthy additives as possible. Added flavour and colour may make the meeting appear more attractive, but it’s only the purity of Jesus that will safely satisfy deep hunger.
Prayer: Thank you Lord that you are the bread of life and that only you can satisfy the deepest longing of my heart. I pray that today you will meet my real spiritual needs as I seek to serve you in the place you have put me. In Jesus' name, Amen
David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62
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