Jesus Christ said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Who is Jesus Christ?
1. John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
2. John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
3. Colossians 2:9, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,”
4. Colossians 1:15-16, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
Obviously, with Jesus Christ we have firsthand information and knowledge about anything and everything that exists, including Man, since John 1:3 states, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Hence, apostle Paul remarks that in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3). It means it is to humanity’s loss when we restrict Jesus Christ to the domain of religion only….
Speaking in his quality of Creator, think of the manufacture of a product talking about it, Jesus said: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Please note, bread is physical (material) and God’s word, i.e the word that comes from God’s mouth, is spiritual (immaterial, cf. John 6:63). Bread nourishes Man’s body and God’s word nourishes Man’s spirit. True living (holistic health) results from Man’s nourishing both body and spirit.
Normally, Man’s spirit is meant to crave (long) for God’s word as much as Man’s body craves for bread. Most people do not realize/experience it because, as the Bible teaches, the spirit of Man is dead (separated from God, read John 1:4).
See, all human beings are born spiritual dead (alienated from God): Ephesians 2:2-4, “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -it is by grace you have been saved.”
Simply put, here the Bible reveals that we were dead (spirit) even as we lived (body) among them (those who are disobedient) until God, because of his great love and mercy, decided to make us alive (spirit) with Christ.
Accordingly, the spirit of anyone God made alive craves for God’s word as much as his/her body craves for bread. Not surprisingly, a born again Christian shows great interest in the word of God (spiritual food) and prayer (spiritual communication) as evidence that his/her spirit is alive. Such a person shall live on bread and on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Therefore, holistic health is within reach for such a person on that account.
No wonder (1) Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying ‘You must be born again.’”, and, (2) holistic health feels like chasing after the wind for many people who have tried whilst feeling something is always missing but without knowing exactly what it is.
May God help us all!
