You Are What You Eat

Now, as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My Body” … And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28 ESV1

Read Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-26 & Luke 22:23

You have probably heard the proverb; “You are what you eat.” That phrase means that what you eat significantly impacts your health and well-being. Because the food you eat provides the nutrients for the function of every cell in your body, eating nutrient-rich food builds a healthy body while eating junk food contributes to the tear down of your body. What is evident in this case physically has similar spiritual connotations. What you consume spiritually greatly affects your spiritual condition. Consider the words of Jesus as He dined with His disciples:

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Unfruitful or Fruitful Pursuits

“‘If it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:9 ESV1

Read Luke 13:1-9

Where I live, Autumn quickly approaches. Crops ripen in the fields. Apple trees burst with fruit. Bright orange pumpkins dot the landscape. Farmers gear up to bring in the harvest. Children anticipate corn mazes, costumes, and candy. Adults look forward to sipping warm apple cider and pumpkin lattes while consuming fresh apple donuts. Everyone is abuzz with the talk of cooler weather and the soon-to-be changing color of the leaves. In my area, this time of year often brings with it a sense of peace and thankfulness for God’s provision.

When Jesus walked the Earth, He had a time when the changing of seasons and the hope of an abundant harvest were on His mind. Though it was Spring physically at this time in Jesus’ earthly life, spiritually speaking, Autumn approached as Jesus went along a specific road to a particular task. The harvest about which Jesus was thinking was not yet observable to the human eye. The awesome change about to take place was not apparent to the untuned heart. But what would soon happen would be the most significant change the world had ever experienced and the most momentous harvest of history was soon to begin.

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All In Love

And Jesus said …, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” … And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. Luke 18:42 & 43b ESV1

Read Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52 & Luke 18:35-43

In the autumn, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths (see John 7:10). In the winter, He was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication (see John 10:22-23). But, in Jerusalem, His life was in danger, so “He went away again across the Jordan … and there He remained” (John 10:40) until He heard that His friend Lazarus from Bethany needed help. Against the advice of His disciples, He, to revive Lazarus, went dangerously close to Jerusalem again (see John 11:18).

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