You are what you eat

Ephesians 5:15-20 & John 6:51-58

Jesus said…“The bread which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh” (v51).

Some say you are what you eat…I'm sure we have all heard that…it makes sense…doesn't it…what we eat makes a difference.

Each too much junk food and get a junky body…eat healthy food and get a healthy body…maybe. There are other factors to consider…the ‘e’ word…exercise…and heredity is also among them…but what we put into our bodies does make a difference!

Something of the same thing is true with friends…we tell our children to choose their friends carefully…not that we are suggesting they should be snobby or elitist.

We tell our children to share their precious toys often with children they barely know…but how good are we at letting someone we barely know use our prized possessions.

We want our young people to choose their friends because of character…because they will become like their friends…many of us will have had the sobering experience of finding that when our children became teenagers… their peers…their friends opinions were far more important to them than those of mum and dad…how they come through that will probably depend on the amount of positive input we had into their lives when they were younger…have you noticed the influence of social media on us…especially on the young… where suddenly we are all developing the hint of an American accent…this is especially noticeable with teenagers.

We want to apply standards for their lives…but do we apply the same standards to ourselves…friendship means developing a relationship in which both like and care about the other person.

When you like and care about another person…you begin unconsciously to copy their mannerisms and to pick up their values.

Thinking back to the idea that we are what we eat…can you see the benefits that…if friends are accustomed to a healthy diet…then both benefit…if friends are accustomed to an unhealthy diet…then both suffer.

There is however something more than food at work…people share spiritual values and beliefs as well and without doubt whether we choose wisely or unwisely…our spiritual image will be reshaped.

Jesus had something to say about that when he said…"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

What in the world did that mean…for the Jews listening some interpreted it as cannibalism…and they were offended…but this isn't what it meant…it was just how they saw it.

We are better prepared to understand Jesus…because we are familiar with the Lord's Supper.

Jesus said of the bread…"this is my body."
He said of wine…"this is my blood."

We come to partake of the body and blood of Jesus…we can't really say that we understand fully what this means…but we understand enough…we understand that…in some way…Jesus blesses us as we receive these emblems of His body and His blood.

When we receive them…we remember His death on the cross on our behalf some 2000 years ago…when we hear Jesus say…"those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life"…we accept that as true.

Again, we do not fully understand it…there is some mystery involved here…but we understand enough…and we are indeed blessed.

Should we limit our thinking to the few minutes during which we are receiving the bread and wine…when Jesus pronounced this blessing…he was talking 3 about the Lord's supper…but he was also talking about a relationship that continues every moment…every second of our lives.

Day and night…weekday's…Saturdays… other days…not just on Sunday…but in our work…our play…and our family life…as well as in our church.

Dick Tripp said…Jesus is talking about becoming such a part of our life that it is as if we had actually consumed him…as if he had actually become a part of us.

Are you someone who watches infomercials on television…or perhaps on You Tube…do you remember the punch line they all have… But wait…there's more!

And there is…in fact…there is truly only more with Jesus…essentially this is what Jesus does for us…Jesus wants to transform our lives by growing our relationship with him. He says…"those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life (54)."

Later on in this gospel Jesus will define eternal life…it has nothing to do with longevity on earth…eternal life is not longevity.

A friend of ours…who lived in Auckland… name of Vince…worked at St. John's Theological College…took care of the maintenance of college properties…Vince was the first person that Margi and I met after we moved into our college house.

He rode a Honda Gold Wing…was chaplain to the Ulysses motorcycle club whose motto is “Grow old disgracefully” meaning don’t let age get in the way of enjoying touring bikes.

He was someone who had allowed the Lord to rub his sharp edges…this had come about through a relationship with the One who is eternal.

Vince had this wonderful philosophy.
Not in a day…not in a year…it is You who have given everything to me Lord…what can I do for you.

Back on the mainland we received a letter… Vince told us he had a cancer which has advanced in his stomach, liver, and lungs… past the stage of being able to be treated…he was just 58.

Eternal life is not longevity…it is about a relationship with the one who is eternal…it is a life changing relationship…a life giving relationship. Jesus says, "those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them." (56).

Jesus was part of Vince's life…Jesus wants to be part of our life…He wants to abide with us…He wants to help make us what we could never hope to be…except for his help.
The seed of God is in us…given an intelligent and hard-working gardener…who will cultivate…it will thrive and grow up towards God…whose seed it is…and accordingly its fruits will be of God nature.

Clover seed grows into clover…apple seeds grow into apple trees…nut seeds grow into nut trees…and God's seeds grow into a deep relationship with God.

Let us open ourselves to His presence in our lives so that He can show us what life really can be.

How is your diet?

Let us pray that we can be disciples who are the good seed which wins people for Christ.

Let us pray.