His Body and His Blood
Each of us will search for what will satisfy the deep needs we feel within our soul.
“Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt...Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn’t recognize him. Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them...They said to one another, “We are certainly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us, and we wouldn’t listen. Therefore this distress has come upon us...Then Joseph gave a command to fill their bags with grain, and to restore each man’s money into his sack, and to give them food for the way."
Genesis 42:3, 6, 8-9, 21, 25
For years Joseph had held on to the pain of what his brothers had done to him. The time of revenge came when they needed food from him. Yet, he was torn. He remembered the vision of his brothers bowing down and it was finally happening. The revenge he likely wanted was not what he needed. What his soul needed was to feed those who had persecuted him as he realized God used all that he endured to bring him to the place he had seen in his vision.
Are you holding on to any offense? How would you handle this situation? What are the deepest longings of your soul?
“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Deep calls to deep"
Psalms 42:1-2, 7
Think of a time you were incredibly thirsty. Your mouth was dry and you longed for life giving water. Think of how refreshing that was to your body. The same refreshment is what we receive when we abide with Jesus. When we connect our spirit to the one who gave us our spirt. How have you made time to be refreshed each day? Are your patterns refreshing your soul?
“Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days. In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don’t withhold your hand; for you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good...walk in the ways of your heart.”
Ecclesiastes 11:1, 6, 9
What does a life of faith look like? Doing what you know to do without knowing how things will turn out because you trust in God. When we walk in faith we please God and when we please God we feed our soul. What will you do today that requires faith?
“Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations...“I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness. I will hold your hand. I will keep you...I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them. “Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.”
Isaiah 42:1, 5-7, 9, 16, 18
What will feed your soul? When you experience life with a miracle working God. Who can make the blind to see? Only God. Who can make the crooked straight? Only God. Are you open to God using you to be the light to someone else who sits in darkness? Your soul longs to be used to help others.
“as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She broke the jar and poured it over his head...Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for me. She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying. Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News may be preached throughout the whole world, that which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her...As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed it, he broke it and gave to them, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body.” He took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many... Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 14:3-4, 6, 8-9, 22-24, 38
What satisfies our flesh is often directly opposite of what satisfies our soul. It would have been better for the woman financially to sell the alabaster jar or to save it for herself, but in giving the best of what she had she fed her soul in a way that would never be forgotten. When we honor God, God honors us. Are you willing to give extravagantly to bless Jesus?
Jesus is willing to give all He had to bless us. He gave His very life that we might find new life in Him. He knows that the flesh is weak so He offers the way to live in freedom from our weakness so that we might be Holy Spirit led. Where do you feel weak? Where do you need to receive Jesus and allow Him to feed your soul?