This is a continuation of an experience written in the blog post Waiting For the Dew Point.
While waiting on the Lord for some time, I began to get hungry and started craving an almond croissant from a local bakery. Contemplating getting up and driving to the bakery, I knew this would cut short the time I had set aside to worship and linger in God's presence. Pushing aside these thoughts, I told the Lord, "I don't want this pastry, even though my flesh is craving it; I want You to be my bread."
Immediately in a vision I saw in my hands the croissant I was hungering for. I watched as my hands broke open the croissant. Inside, to my horror, the bread crawled with maggots.
At that moment I was reminded that the Israelites were commanded to collect manna DAILY. Any manna saved for the next day spoiled and had worms in it.
"Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell." Exodus 16:4,19,20a
The Lord was speaking and teaching me a lesson. Just as dew is fresh on the grass every morning, so we must seek God's presence daily. Fresh manna comes with the dew. There is a call by the Spirit to come and sup DAILY with Jesus who's name is the Living Bread and the Living Word. He is inviting us to sit at His table and receive His Fresh Rhema and Logos Word for today.
YESTERDAY'S MANNA was not meant to be consumed today. God wants us to be dependent upon Him. Jesus said,"I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven.""Give us THIS day our daily bread."* Just as our bodies need daily nourishment, our spirits need the daily spiritual nourishment of the Living Word. Jesus said, "My flesh is real food."* He was speaking in a spiritual sense. Jesus is our daily portion.
"LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup."-Psalm 16:5a
My friend, if we are relying on a word that we received in a 35 minute sermon on Sunday morning to feed our spirit during the rest of the week, we are SORELY MALNOURISHED. This practice could be compared to collecting our day's portion of manna and hoping it will last the week. It is going to have worms and stink.
Are we relying on a time when we read the Scriptures in the past to sustain us today? Have we clung to a time we heard God's voice in the past and neglected to wait upon Him to see what He will say today? Are we trying to satisfy our appetite with books about God, but failing to go to the true source.
Oh, if we would think about and chew upon the Word of God as much as we think about our next physical meal. If only we would skip a meal to sup with Jesus a little while longer. Where are those who will Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness Himself?
"And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." -Deuteronomy 8:3
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I have craved physical food over your Abiding Presence and Living Word that nourishes my spirit. I confess that I have neglected to daily sit at Your feet, hear your voice, seek daily guidance, and read Your Living Scriptures. Your words are spirit and they are life. I set my heart and desires on You as my portion and my cup. Knowing You is my reward. I ask that you would awaken me morning by morning. Awaken my ear to listen as a disciple. Give me a hunger and thirst for Your righteousness and Your truth. Thank you for Your promise that if I open the door to You, Jesus, that You will meet and dine with me.
Jesus said to the church, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."-Revelation 3:20
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not."-Exodus 16:4
*John 6:51a, Luke 11:3
*John 6:55a
*Psalm 16:5a
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