Beginnings: Your New Food*
‘Jesus declared, “I am the Bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.” ‘
John 6:35 (NIV)
We know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do…
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:14-15, 24-25 (NKJV)
Food and water are life necessities, but delicious foods and delightful treats can easily become objects of lust: sad substitutes for a fulfilling life; passing delights that last merely moments.
Jesus revealed this common stumbling block when He faced Satan in the wilderness. Hunger was our Captain’s first temptation. Of course, Earth’s only sinless Man declined.
Countless times, I’ve been “enslaved” by hunger: far more for indulgence than basic need! Food is the most obvious example of the battle between flesh and Spirit.**
If food is mankind’s most common idol, then rounding out the top five might include: wealth, power, beauty, and celebrity.
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
Like Christ, you have food that others don’t know. It’s food that’s not seen. It’s the 'Bread of Life' (John 6:35).* This Nourishment should become crystal clear… to friends in church and fans in media.
I believe John 4:1-42 (re: Jesus and the woman at the well) beautifully describes your action plan in the massive fields of entertainment.*** Consider this God-centered progression:
Hunger and thirst are relatable needs. But more than food, people hunger for love!
Honest sinners may be closer to God than finger-pointing, judgmental “Christians”.
True worship is about Spirit and truth, not denominations, walls, or rules.
Entertainment fields are ripe for harvest. Countless lost sheep are wandering through them.
You enter the labor of others, built by ‘The prince of the power of the air’ (Ephesians 2:2).
Through Jesus, you reap where you did not sow’ (Matthew 25:24), leaving stuck-up “Christians” stuck in their pews.
Beginnings: Your New Food (Part 20)
* Excellent article in Focus Magazine: Challenging Discipleship: 'I have food to eat that you do not know about:' Challenging Discipleship: "I Have Food to Eat That You Do Not Know About"
** Paul perfectly describes a Christian's frustration with these fleshly temptations. Our Answer? The same as his: Jesus. We must connect with our Victory so strongly that the last fruit of the Holy Spirit is evident in our lives: self-discipline. I am not bragging like I'm there. I stumble too often to claim any prize (yet), so I am a work in progress. But if you're in that contest with me, you and I need to admit our dependence on God. And with Him, we work out our own salvation (from fleshly temptations) with fear and trembling.
*** John 4:1-42: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+4%3A1-42&version=NKJV
NOTE TO PERFORMERS STRUGGLING WITH FOOD OR OTHER PHYSICALLY ATTRACTIVE STUMBLING BLOCKS: Check out Romans 7:14-25. (I am linking The Message interpretation: Romans 7:14-25 MSG - I can anticipate the response that is - Bible Gateway
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God– to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!