Isa 29:14 “Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder.”
Something stupid that I grew out of and matured in is, letting my car run out of gas. Why do people ever do that to begin with? Why did I? I guess when I was younger it was mostly two things. A lack of money to buy gas and/or procrastination. Having a lack of money to put gas in your car be difficult for anyone that experiences financial hardships. Procrastination is about growing up and maturing. I am so glad I don’t do that anymore because it often created painful and unnecessary hardships and inconvenience.
Just as there are painful and unnecessary hardships from running out of gas, there are painful and unnecessary hardships in the Christian life from not filling up our spirit. Most – and I mean most Christians do not fill up daily on the Word of God. They may have learned to fill the gas tanks of their car, but have become dull to filling the most important fuel tank of all – the fuel tank of their spirit.
Our spirit does have a fuel tank and it needs to be filled! Jesus reveals in John 6:31-33 that there was two kinds of fuel for our human existence – natural food and spiritual food. Jesus said “Our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! As the Scriptures say, 'Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.' I assure you, Moses didn't give them bread from Heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from Heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
Jesus said there were two kinds of bread. The manna – the food that God supplied and fed them with in with in the desert, and the spiritual bread - the “true bread of God that comes down from Heaven and gives life – life to the world.” Jesus says He is that bread in John 6:51. “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." To those that didn’t understand Jesus or hadn’t heard some of the other things that He said, that might have sounded cannibalistic. It wasn’t. When He said “this bread is my flesh” He was saying that the Bread was His Word. He was the living and breathing Word of God.
We see this in John 1:1 & verse 14. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Here we see that Jesus and His Word are one and the same. We may not have Him here in the flesh with us, but we do have the very same thing He was asking His followers to feed on - His words.
We get another great illustration about how God feels about physical nourishment vs. spiritual nourishment through the Word of God by way of a vision the prophet Isaiah spoke to the world about long before Jesus had yet arrived. These words were pointing to Jesus.
Isaiah 55:2-3 “Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul! Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the mercies and unfailing love that I promised to David.”
What you may or may not realize is that God created you first and foremost as a spirit being. I know we live in this physical world but, your earthly body and this physical world will both one day be replaced. Your spirit will live for ever. That’s why nourishment of it is so critical. That’ s why you prayerfully spending time in the Word of God is so important. You are feeding on Jesus – on His Word – which is the true life and substance of your existence.
This is about the time most Christians think – “I know this already.” But, according to research done by the Barna Research Group in 1999, only 45% of Christians read their Bible during a typical week! This is less than half that even “eat spiritually” and even then, it gives no indication that it would come close to daily reading from the less than half that do read.
Jesus taught in Matt 6:11 that when we pray, we are to pray “Give us this day our daily bread.” Since Jesus is that bread and He is the Word of God, what He was teaching was this; “When you pray, ask the Father to speak to your heart – to impart truth and life to you daily.”
Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Luke 4:4-5) Reading the Bible on occasion – will not supply all of the Word from Heaven that you are to take into your heart.
Should I let you in on a secret? Read the Word of God. Whether you read a little or a lot, ask God to speak to you through it. When you see God speaking promise to His children, receive it for yourself. That is what the Bible is - a Word of Promise. Hebrews 6:12 “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” What is it that you are needing help from God so desperately for? Is it wisdom or help or healing? Is it resources or provision? Do you know what He promises You? God wants to fill your spirit with promise daily so that you will know Him as your living, loving Father who intimately cares for you. He wants you to experience and personally be touched by His marvelous works. Turn the unprofitable off and spend time with Him! As today’s Fresh Manna says, “Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder.”