Chapter 4 Of Ravi Zacharias Jesus Among Other Gods

Consuming the Wrong Food Do not love the world or anything in the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of the God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17 The number one struggle which leads to sin is desiring things of the flesh and giving into physical cravings. Chapter 4 of Ravi Zacharias’ Jesus Among Other Gods addresses this topic and shines light on who we should truly crave. Ravi first introduces the topic setting the scene in the book of Matthew. This is where Jesus uses food as an example to show the importance of coming to him. Secondly,
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Why did Jesus use food out of everything else in the world as an example of people’s need for him? Ravi says on page 91, “By contrast, in a very simple way Jesus drew the real need of his audience to that hunger which is spiritual in nature, a hunger that is shared by every human, so that we are not human livings or human doings but human beings. We are not in need merely of a superior ethic, we need a transformed heart and will that seek to do the will of God.” Jesus knew that people needed food to survive, yet he also knew that people didn’t understand their need for Jesus was just as imperative. When we eat, we will eventually get hungry later. However, Jesus offers us a different type of food, food from his body, his teachings, his truth, and this food will forever keep us full. Our soul and relationship with God needs the nutrients of truth and promise that Jesus
He wants us to live, be healthy, and treat our bodies like temples, if we pursue him with passion. Ravi encourages on page 84, “The only way one can realize life while one lives it is if he or she realizes that life is not a matter of nutrition alone but of a greater hunger that is beyond words and food.” Why does the bible talk about fasting? The prominent point of fasting is to put aside desires of food or other fleshly things and turn that focus to God. Ravi also says on page 85, “If I am to be fulfilled, I must pursue a will that is greater than mine-a fulfilled life is one that has the will of God as its focus, not the appetite of the flesh.” God wants us to enjoy food, since it is his creation. However, he does not want us to turn our focus askew from him. On page 87, Ravi points out how food can be helpful if we use it correctly. Food can be a means of fellowship, to celebrate, to please and show creativity. Jesus used food bread and wine specifically to depict his sacrifice of dying for us and saving us from sin. He intertwined food and our relationship with him so that we may understand the depth. Ravi says on page 91, “Our greatest hunger, as Jesus described it, is for a consummate relationship that combines physical and the spiritual, that engenders both awe and love, and that is expressed in celebration and