“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”‘” — Matthew 4:4
The Good Old Gospel
Athletes burn a lot of calories in order to train for competition. In the college cafeteria, it is remarkable how much food football players and other competitors consume, and they still run fast and perform at a high level. Since physical health is vital for athletes, nutrition is an important aspect of training, in addition to weightlifting, stretching exercises and running.
Even though sports and athletes change their methods, designs and facilities in each generation, the need for proper nutrition is a constant aspect for participants in sports. As farmers changed from mules to tractors, the basic need for good food continued through the decades. Techniques may change over time, but the basic need for food does not.
In a changing world, our spiritual needs, like our physical needs, are unchanging. The basic need of saving our souls never changes. And God wants to satisfy the yearning of hungry souls. When the devil tried to get Jesus to only think about His belly, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke about the importance of spiritual food. “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”‘” (Matthew 4:4).
Since we are all sinners, we all need a Savior. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Our grandparents needed the Gospel and our grandchildren still need the Gospel. Jesus spoke of Himself as spiritual bread since Scripture leads us to the Savior. “For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Ga.
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