Eating & Drinking Christ

[Vine Abider]

While there are verses that tell us to study and know the word (e.g. Acts 17:11), it seems to me there are a multitude of verses telling us to eat, drink and meditate on His word.

"Your words were found and I did eat them and they became the joy and rejoicing to my heart." Jerimiah 15:16

And in 1 Corinthians 12:13 we're told that we "drink of one Spirit"  There is the tree of life which we are to eat and the river of water of life we are told to drink.

Then in John 6:64 Jesus makes this bold statement which caused many to turn away:

"He that eats Me, even he shall live because of Me."

So it seems while there may be scriptures telling us to study and know the word, there are a whole bunch letting us know that the things of Christ, and Christ Himself, is meant to be taken in through eating and drinking.  It certainly suggests that there is something much more to scripture than head knowledge.

And the bible opens and closes (Genesis 2 and Revelation 22) with the Tree of Life, which we are exhorted to eat of.

What do you think is the significance of this idea of eating and drinking the things of God?  Is this more than just studying the written word?  And if so, how do we know the difference?

[Michael37]

3 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

While there are verses that tell us to study and know the word (e.g. Acts 17:11), it seems to me there are a multitude of verses telling us to eat, drink and meditate on His word.

"Your words were found and I did eat them and they became the joy and rejoicing to my heart." Jerimiah 15:16

And in 1 Corinthians 12:13 we're told that we "drink of one Spirit"  There is the tree of life which we are to eat and the river of water of life we are told to drink.

Then in John 6:64 Jesus makes this bold statement which caused many to turn away:

"He that eats Me, even he shall live because of Me."

So it seems while there may be scriptures telling us to study and know the word, there are a whole bunch letting us know that the things of Christ, and Christ Himself, is meant to be taken in through eating and drinking.  It certainly suggests that there is something much more to scripture than head knowledge.

And the bible opens and closes (Genesis 2 and Revelation 22) with the Tree of Life, which we are exhorted to eat of.

What do you think is the significance of this idea of eating and drinking the things of God?  Is this more than just studying the written word?  And if so, how do we know the difference?

For me this is one of the most edifying topics in Biblical Theology.

The First Humans sinned by eating forbidden fruit, but in eternity the Redeemed of Humanity eat from the Tree of Life and drink Living Water.

[AnOrangeCat]

3 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

What do you think is the significance of this idea of eating and drinking the things of God?  Is this more than just studying the written word?  And if so, how do we know the difference?

I'll add Matthew 4:4 for consideration. It's where Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

From that and other verses I see the eating and drinking comparison as an illustration of how important God in all three of His identities is to us. Without food and water we tend to die pretty quickly. Just as we know the eventual outcome of physical starvation and dehydration we also know the outcome of shunning God.

Regarding studying I'd say it's definitely more than that. Communion, service, and having an actual relationship fit in. Satan knows the Bible better than any of us, and that knowledge isn't going to save him anymore than it's going to save people who study the Bible for the purpose of trying to poke holes in it. James has quite a lot to say about being active and touches on this topic in James 1:22-25: "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

[Vine Abider]

20 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

For me this is one of the most edifying topics in Biblical Theology.

The First Humans sinned by eating forbidden fruit, but in eternity the Redeemed of Humanity eat from the Tree of Life and drink Living Water.

Indeed!  We humans are eating machines, that is, I'm often amazed how much we are driven by food.  This is how our Creator made us and is really just a picture of the reality in the spiritual realm! 

[Marilyn C]

On 5/10/2025 at 7:53 AM, Vine Abider said:

While there are verses that tell us to study and know the word (e.g. Acts 17:11), it seems to me there are a multitude of verses telling us to eat, drink and meditate on His word.

"Your words were found and I did eat them and they became the joy and rejoicing to my heart." Jerimiah 15:16

And in 1 Corinthians 12:13 we're told that we "drink of one Spirit"  There is the tree of life which we are to eat and the river of water of life we are told to drink.

Then in John 6:64 Jesus makes this bold statement which caused many to turn away:

"He that eats Me, even he shall live because of Me."

So it seems while there may be scriptures telling us to study and know the word, there are a whole bunch letting us know that the things of Christ, and Christ Himself, is meant to be taken in through eating and drinking.  It certainly suggests that there is something much more to scripture than head knowledge.

And the bible opens and closes (Genesis 2 and Revelation 22) with the Tree of Life, which we are exhorted to eat of.

What do you think is the significance of this idea of eating and drinking the things of God?  Is this more than just studying the written word?  And if so, how do we know the difference?

Hi Va,

I have thought on this before and here is what I think.

When we eat food we chew and then our bodies digest the food for the whole body. Then when we read God`s word and meditate upon it (chewing) the Holy Spirit takes it, (truth of Christ) and works in our life to make us more like Christ. 

The key is to meditate upon what we have read and let it digest into our spirits. Because it is `life,` (eternal life) it has an operating effect in our lives that changes us by the Holy Spirit. 

So, knowing that we need to `eat/meditate/` carefully upon the Lord - what He is, what He says and what He does. 

 

[Vine Abider]

7 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi Va,

I have thought on this before and here is what I think.

When we eat food we chew and then our bodies digest the food for the whole body. Then when we read God`s word and meditate upon it (chewing) the Holy Spirit takes it, (truth of Christ) and works in our life to make us more like Christ. 

The key is to meditate upon what we have read and let it digest into our spirits. Because it is `life,` 9eternal life) it has an operating affect in our lives that changes us by the Holy Spirit. 

So, knowing that we need to `eat/meditate/` carefully upon the Lord - what He is, what He says and what He does. 

 

Amen & AMEN!!!  This hits the nail squarely on the head, sister! Life is contained in the word - "The words I speak to you are spirit and life."  Therefore, while we do need understanding, our greatest need is life that we can grow thereby in Christ. So we, like children, in simplicity need to chew on the word and drink in this life!

This is is the same as we're talking about over on the thread that @LastDaysJames started and discussing how we need to be like simple children: 

"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."

(1 Pet 2:2)

Think less & chew more . . .

[LastDaysJames]

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

Amen & AMEN!!!  This hits the nail squarely on the head, sister! Life is contained in the word - "The words I speak to you are spirit and life."  Therefore, while we do need understanding, our greatest need is life that we can grow thereby in Christ. So we, like children, in simplicity need to chew on the word and drink in this life!

This is is the same as we're talking about over on the thread that @LastDaysJames started and discussing how we need to be like simple children: 

"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."

(1 Pet 2:2)

Think less & chew more . . .

I find it hilarious (in a good way) that you are talking about the importance of eating, and chewing, with your picture of you eating. Love it.

[Marilyn C]

8 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

Amen & AMEN!!!  This hits the nail squarely on the head, sister! Life is contained in the word - "The words I speak to you are spirit and life."  Therefore, while we do need understanding, our greatest need is life that we can grow thereby in Christ. So we, like children, in simplicity need to chew on the word and drink in this life!

This is is the same as we're talking about over on the thread that @LastDaysJames started and discussing how we need to be like simple children: 

"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."

(1 Pet 2:2)

Think less & chew more . . .

And as we grow we then `eat meat.` That then is the teachings that God has enabled people of God to bring together across the word. The teachings/doctrines of Salvation, Sanctification, ....eschatology etc. And because we are towards the coming together of the Body, (rapture) then the teaching of God`s purpose for us (& Israel and the Nations) is being hotly discussed. 

`For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.` (Heb. 5: 13 & 14)

[Vine Abider]

1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

And as we grow we then `eat meat.` That then is the teachings that God has enabled people of God to bring together across the word. The teachings/doctrines of Salvation, Sanctification, ....eschatology etc. And because we are towards the coming together of the Body, (rapture) then the teaching of God`s purpose for us (& Israel and the Nations) is being hotly discussed. 

`For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.` (Heb. 5: 13 & 14)

I've come to think that the stronger food, or "word of righteousness," is about knowing what is profitable for the kingdom.  That is, a babe knows little more than to eat and drink and be cared for.  But a more mature one is exercised and grows/develops spiritual muscle to know what is profitable (good) and is unprofitable (evil) for the kingdom, and thereby knows how to - and is able to - properly help with building up the body of Christ.

[Marilyn C]

37 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

I've come to think that the stronger food, or "word of righteousness," is about knowing what is profitable for the kingdom.  That is, a babe knows little more than to eat and drink and be cared for.  But a more mature one is exercised and grows/develops spiritual muscle to know what is profitable (good) and is unprofitable (evil) for the kingdom, and thereby knows how to - and is able to - properly help with building up the body of Christ.

I hope to not get this off topic, but VA you mentioned `the kingdom and the Body of Christ,` what do you see as the difference, if any?