Tuesday, October 3, 2017
John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
FEED YOUR SOUL!
If a person wants to have a strong, healthy body, one of the most important things to do is feed the body good, substantial, nourishing food. In fact, without good, regular nourishment, the body will not only become unhealthy, it will waste away and die.
What is true of man’s body is also true of his soul. Unless the soul gets good, substantial, wholesome, and soul-nourishing food, it cannot live, but will also suffer all the pains which precede a death of starvation, and will finally die. Which does not mean that it shall pass out of existence, but that it shall be damned. Anyone who is interested in finding out what pain and agony of a damned soul is like may read about it in Scripture where Christ describes the woe and misery of those souls. And anyone interested in becoming acquainted with the pains and agonies which precede the death of starvation may read about it in the early life history of Dr. Martin Luther. For his soul, although it did not die but was rescued, experienced all these starvation pains. Read the early life history of Luther, the life which he spent in the Roman Catholic Church, the life when he had to feed his soul on false teachings of man and see how his soul was wasting away because it could find no comfort, no peace, no way of silencing the attacks of conscience and Satan.
About the soul of man: Scripture says it is not a material thing created out of matter as the body was created out of the dust of the ground, but it is a spirit which man received from God Himself when He breathed the breath of life in the nostrils of man. Since the soul of man is not matter, but a spirit, therefore it cannot live by or on material things. Of course, there are people who claim that it can, but they're only fooling themselves. No, if the soul is a spirit then it can only live on spiritual food.
And what might that correct spiritual soul-diet be? The only One who can tell us is He who gave us our souls, God. In Scripture He answers this question-- first in a negative way and then in a positive way. His negative answer now is as follows-- in His own words: "In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." So He says in Matthew 15:9. And again, in Psalm 108:12, He says, "For the help of man is useless." Hence His negative answer to our question would be: Man with his teachings or doctrines has nothing at all to offer to nourish the souls of men and women.
In a positive way now the Lord has this to answer to our question: "The Law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul." Thus we read in Psalm 19:7. "Hear [His Word] and your soul shall live!" Thus He says in Isaiah 55:3. "Man lives by every Word of God!" So He says in Luke 4:4. His answer to our question, therefore, is this: "Your soul shall live by the Word of God!" That is its food and its only food.
This life-giving food for your souls is dwelling richly among you, my friends. At home you have it in your Bible where you can partake of it by reading it. Every week it is preached in your midst, so that you may partake of it in an audible way. Your soul does not ever need to starve or experience any pains of starvation, for you always have the right soul-food on hand.
