LifeLink Devotions for Tuesday, July 9, 2024

The final fundamental of a REAL church as described in Acts 2:42 is that the people are devoted to the breaking of bread. At first reading this may appear to simply mean that the church had lots of carry-in dinners, or what some call potlucks. I remember asking an older gentleman in the church I attended as a youth why it was called a potluck, and he said, “Because everyone brings a pot of food, and good luck finding anything worth eating.” I know people that still feel that way.

Yes, the early church did have fellowship dinners every week. That’s what Paul wrote the Corinthians about when he admonished them for the improper way in which they were conducting themselves at those dinners. But following that admonition, he gave them instructions about the real significance of those dinners – it was the communion service at the end of them that was to be reverenced. Paul says to them to not be devoted to the food but be devoted to the spiritual significance of the food – it represents Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life.

John 6:32-35 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

I believe that it is essential for the REAL church to consistently celebrate the grace of salvation provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is equally important for the individual members of the Body of Christ to constantly reflect on the nature of their salvation and to live in humble gratitude for it. Being devoted to the breaking of bread means we are devoted to the joy of our salvation.

Because His Son, the Bread of Life, lives in us, the Father expresses His unending grace to us every day in every situation. He protects us, guards us, directs us, encourages us, and so much more.

But as wonderful as those daily expressions of God’s grace are, there is nothing that can compare with the wonder and emotion that should overwhelm us when we think of the cross of Jesus Christ and that He died personally for us! He paid the debt of our sin by becoming our sin and suffering the physical pain and death of the wrath of God against that sin. His love is amazing! His salvation is an indescribable gift! Nothing I will ever learn or experience will ever mean more to me than this – I am not my own anymore. I have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and I am His eternally!

So for me, food takes on a new symbolism. Not just the communion bread and cup, but all food. Every time I eat anything, I will remember this – Jesus is the Bread of Life, and only He can completely nourish life. I will be devoted to the joy of my salvation.

Pastor John