We are familiar with the manna the children of Israel were fed in the wilderness. The people needed food and God provided. In the region where they were, there is a secretion from trees which, when strained and cooked, is sweet, similar to honey.
The manna which God sent was like coriander seeds. The people would grind it and make it into bread. The manna was on the ground after the dew left. The people were to gather enough for that day only, except on Friday they were to gather enough to supply them through Saturday. God did not send manna on the Sabbath. If extra was gathered the other days of the week, it did not keep.
Spiritual manna is food supplied by God for his people. It is given in abundance. There is no day which we are forbidden to partake of the spiritual manna. God’s word is food for the soul. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14. In this passage we are taught about the milk of the word and the solid food.
Paul warned the Christians in Corinth about not growing in the word of the Lord. “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
Jesus refers to himself as manna. “As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.” John 6:57-58.
Many have forgotten that Jesus is the “word.”
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. When we read and learn the word of God (the Bible) we are learning Jesus. We are getting that spiritual manna from heaven so that we will live forever.
How are your eating habits? When we look at one another’s physical bodies, we can tell something about our habits of eating physical foods. How is your spiritual life? Are you eating a balanced diet of the word? We must eat lest we become weak and die. Just as our physical bodies need food, our soul also needs food. We need to eat daily to have good physical health. How often should we eat spiritual food?
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 2-4.
So many people read the labels on the food in the grocery stores. Many of those same people read books, but do not read the labels on those books. You must read the Bible and study it with all diligence. This is the only book with the answers to all the spiritual questions we need to know. Jesus said,”You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
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Vernon Curry has preached at the Highland Drive Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff for about 16 years.