Baytown is starving to death -- not from lack of physical food, but from lack of spiritual food. Surveys say that less than ten percent of us worship on Sundays.

We do earn bread from hard work and overtime. We work all week, party Saturday nights, sleep in on Sundays…no time or energy left topraise God and to be fed spiritually, so we think.

The devil tempted a hungry Jesus with bread. Jesus knew what was best (Matthew 4:4 ESV): " 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " God’s Word is the real bread.

Many people started following Jesus because He fed the five thousand (John 6:22-35). He told them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves [of bread]. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you."

God knows that you need bread to eat and bread to pay bills with. He promises to provide food to you. He has gifted you with many abilities to make bread. But He also calls you to feed on the bread that gives eternal life. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."

If you want to avoid starvation, feed on the Word of God every day. Read it. Hear it preached. Take it in Communion. Share it with others who are needy.

God’s Word is better than bread. It gives eternal life.

Amen.

Pastor Raymond Van Buskirk,

www.rlcbaytown.org