Nourishing Your Body With Good Food

1 Thessalonians 2:13

You accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. – 1 Thessalonians 2:13

How do we view the Bible? A guideline of morality? A handbook for life? The Scripture has a self-awareness that is far more profound. When we see the Bible as the very words of God, the goal changes from learning to being transformed. The Bible is living and active and, if we accept that, it can do a work in us that we can’t do ourselves. Let the Bible do the work for you today and accept it in it’s full power.

A righteousness of imputation, namely, Christ's righteousness. He shall be called the Lord our righteousness' (Jeremiah 23:6). This is as truly ours to justify, as it is Christ's to bestow. By virtue of this righteousness God looks upon us as if we had never sinned (Numbers 23:21). This is a perfect righteousness. Ye are complete in him' (Colossians 2:10). This does not only cover but adorn. He who has this righteousness is equal to the most illustrious saints. The weakest believer is justified as much as the strongest. This is a Christian's triumph. When he is defiled in himself, he is undefiled in his Head. In this blessed righteousness we shine brighter than the angels. This righteousness is worth hungering after.

A righteousness of implantation: that is, inherent righteousness, namely, the graces of the Spirit, holiness of heart and life, which Cajetan calls universal righteousness'. This a pious soul hungers after. This is a blessed hunger. Bodily hunger cannot make a man so miserable as spiritual hunger makes him blessed. This evidences life. A dead man cannot hunger. Hunger proceeds from life. The first thing the child does when it is born, is to hunger after the breast. Spiritual hunger follows upon the new birth (1 Peter 2:2). Saint Bernard in one of his Soliloquies comforts himself with this, that sure he had the truth of grace in him, because he had in his heart a strong desire after God. It is happy when, though we have not what we should, we desire what we have not. The appetite is as well from God as the food.

The hypocrite's desires are cheap. He would have spiritual things, but will be at no charges for them. He cares not how much money he parts with for his lusts; he has money to spend upon a drunken companion; but he has no money to part with for the maintaining of God's ordinances. Hypocrites cry up religion, but cry down maintenance of ministers. But true desires are costly. David would not offer burnt-offerings without cost (1 Chronicles 21:24). An hungry man will give anything for food; as it fell out in the siege of Samaria (2 Kings 6:25). That man never hungered after Christ who thinks much of parting with a little silver for the Pearl of price'.

1 See here at what a low price God sets heavenly things. It is but hungering and thirsting. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, buy without money' (Isaiah 55:1). We are not bid to bring any merits as the Papists would do, nor to bring a sum of money to purchase righteousness. Rich men would be loath to do that. All that is required is to bring an appetite. Christ hash fulfilled all righteousness'. We are only to hunger and thirst after righteousness'. This is equal and reasonable. God does not require rivers of oil, but sighs and tears.

 

The invitation of the gospel is free. If a friend invites guests to his table, he does not expect they should bring money to pay for their dinner, only come with an appetite. So, says God, It is not penance, pilgrimage, self-righteousness I require. Only bring a stomach: hunger and thirst after righteousness'. God might have set Christ and salvation at an higher price, but he has much beaten down the price. Now as this shows the sweetness of God's nature he is not a hard master so it shows us the inexcusableness of those who perish under the gospel.

What apology can any man make at the day of judgment, when God shall ask that question, Friend, why did you not embrace Christ? I set Christ and grace at a low rate. If you had but hungered after righteousness, you might have had it, but you slighted Christ. You had such low thoughts of righteousness that you would not hunger after it. How do you think to escape who have neglected 'so great salvation'? The easier the terms of the gospel are, the sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy of who unworthy refuse such an offer.

Jesus feeds the five thousand—He walks on the sea—He is the living manna sent from God—Salvation is gained by eating living bread—Jesus explains how men eat his flesh and drink his blood—Peter testifies that Jesus is the Messiah. John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that come to me shall never hunger; and he that believe on me shall never thirst.

Invitation is open to all who thirst and hunger for the love of Christ. If you know someone today that is looking for spiritual food. Show them the way to Christ. Invite them to your church and bible study. Show them the exact love as Christ has shown you.. God be with you forevermore!







Love you all..