What are you going to eat this Christmas?

I'm sure that for most of us the eating has begun. We usually start "packing it away" beginning with Thanksgiving and continue on through New Years. As for me, I'm just salivating over the thought of my wife's Kringla--the sweetness of a cookie and the texture of bread. I'm convinced they will be a staple in glory :). I have a rather discriminating palate when it comes to Christmas goodies. Don't want to waste my caloric intake on just anything. Chocolate anything is good--but particularly dark chocolate. Tea rolls, cinnamon rolls, poppyseed bread, pumpkin bread, ham, roast beef, mashed potatoes--all favorites of mine. When I say I'm discriminating it does not mean I'm a picky eater--I like most everything. But I'm also aware that my metabolic rate is slowing and I don't need as many calories. So what will you eat this Christmas? You might not realize it, but the scripture actually gives us some guidance on this question. Of course, the guidance has to do with spiritual nourishment and not gratifying our physical palate. I read John 6 this morning and what a wonderful reminder of what our Christmas diet should look like. After Jesus had fed the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, they were impressed with his power, but more intrigued by their full bellies. Typical human beings given to self-gratification think first of their gut, of filling their stomachs. An intriguing look at human nature that so easily by-passes God's display of power that should inspire awe and focuses on self-gratification. Jesus left the crowds, but they pursued Him and Jesus tells us why, "you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled" (John 6:26). Jesus turned their thoughts to the eternal not merely temporal. For that culture bread represented their staple food, the supply of their need for sustenance. Jesus directed the crowd to look beyond the immediate and work for the food that "endures to eternal life" (6:27). What does Jesus tell them they need to eat? "Jesus said, 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'" John 6:35. True satisfaction of our spiritual hunger and the thirst of our soul is only found through belief in Christ. Only belief in Christ will satisfy us eternally. Jesus directs us to "Feast on Himself" and by that He is NOT advocating cannibalism, but speaking in spiritual terms He is saying that those who believe (turn from their self-directed life of sin and truly trust Christ for the forgiveness of sin) will be eternally satisfied/saved. How do I know that Jesus is speaking about eternal satisfaction/life? Read John 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise Him up on the last day." Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.