September 19: Soul Food

In this Psalm and throughout the Bible, God is described as refreshing water and satisfying food. He is a replenishing drink of water in the middle of a parched desert. He is a lavish meal that satisfies with joy. He is our nourishment, our strength, and our portion. We are invited to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). When Jesus came, He offered Himself as the “bread of life” (John 6:35) and invites us to come to Him for “living water” (John 7:37–38). What are we to make of all this culinary language?

Well, it turns out that this language is an echo of our created design. God made humans as physical and spiritual beings. We are made from the dust of the earth and are animated by the breath of God (Genesis 2:7). We have bodies and souls. And as a result, we have appetites and needs in both the physical and spiritual dimensions of our being. Just as our bodies hunger and thirst for physical food and drink, our souls hunger and thirst for spiritual food and drink. Just as we cannot live unless we are nourished and sustained physically, we cannot live unless we are nourished and sustained spiritually.

When it comes to our spiritual appetites and needs, God Himself is the source of our spiritual life. He gives us life, breath, and everything else. That’s why God invites us to drink deeply of His presence and feast upon His goodness. He is our life, our strength, our portion, and our joy. Without Him, we’re spiritually starving and parched. And nothing else can take His place because our souls were made for Him and Him alone.

On this journey of a lifetime, Jesus is inviting His disciples to discover how to truly feed their souls. He’s teaching us to hunger and thirst for all that God is for us in Christ. He’s forming a community of disciples who will together help each other “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Jesus is inviting you to come to the table!