Bread of Life.

Today's reading:  "33 "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." 35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."" John 6: 33-35 (NKJV)

What is interesting about John 6, is that Jesus is making it clear that we ought to hunger for heaven, and not the things of this world which cannot stand up to the truth. Our food spoils if we leave it out too long, or let it go inside the refrigerator. I think it is also interesting to consider that food that has a longer shelf life has preservatives in it. Though, I don't think that much of our food that is high in preservatives is really that good for you. And, yet, food during Jesus' time was preserved with salt. I think I may have mentioned in an earlier blog that salt is a preservative. It keeps food from spoiling, it gives flavor and has healing properties. I think in relation to what Jesus is sharing in John's gospel here is that we ought to focus our attention on the truth, having an eternal perspective. Jesus is making it clear that He is sent by God, and that we cannot go wrong by Him. He is everything we need.

Food is necessary for us to live. Our human bodies fail if we go too long without food. We hunger and we thirst. The other word I was trying to think of here is sustenance. By remaining in the Bible, and seeking to know Jesus more and learn about Him, you will find that your soul will be sustained and lifted up. It is a truth it took me a long time to realize. As much as I enjoy food, who doesn't? I want to be hungry for the the truth, and let Jesus work in my life. Food which fuels our bodies will only sustain us so long. The spiritual food we hunger for will satisfy us all of our days when we are walking right with Jesus.

What do you hunger for today?  Do you desire to know the truth? Do you desire to be satisfied and have your spirit filled? One of the things I have longed for is joy. Only as I walk and make it through the different trials I have faced, have I learned that I am not alone, and I am filled by the promises in the Bible. I want to mention that John 6 is kind of a deep chapter in this gospel. Jesus was being affronted by people who only wanted to see signs and miracles or to ridicule Him. He was with them and proclaimed His intentions and they still did not believe Him. Jesus was pointing out that where manna is to the Law of Moses, that He is the bread of life. Manna only sustained the people during Moses' time, then it perished, and went bad. Jesus is saying that without Him, the living bread, one cannot live. Jesus is the means our hearts long to be fed.

I was reminded today about the importance of reading the Bible. There are many people who only get to hear the Word of God second hand. We are blessed to be able to read Bibles in America. In China, many have to be smuggled in to believers, and those who smuggle them risk life and freedom just to secure believers with the truth. I have been told that we can consider the Bible our daily bread. What happens when you don't eat? You starve, right? Seven days without reading the Bible makes one weak, and not eating weakens one's ability to stay healthy, ( I am speaking spiritually, here.) If we are to remain healthy in Christ, we must read daily to know Jesus' voice in our lives. It is about our relationship with Him, and how He will transform our lives.

Take time to consider what you have hungered for in life. Are you satisfied with the direction your life is going? You have the ability to decide which way you will go. Although I have believed Jesus is who He says He is, since my early boyhood, I think most of my life has been spent being religious. It is only in the last decade that I can clearly see that I have a real relationship with Christ, and He is making changes as I am willing to believe and receive power in my life from Him in the Bible.

My prayer today  is: Jesus, I want to hunger for Your word more each day. I want to eat daily, and have my spirit filled with Your love, Your joy, and live in a way that is pleasing to You. You are the bread that sustains me, and gives me new life. Thank you for revealing this truth in my life. I pray for my friends who do not yet have a relationship with You or who have fallen away. Help them to be fed with the truth of Your Word. Only in You, Jesus, can we have eternal life, a life where we are new, imperishable, incorruptible, and satisfied. Thank you for Your gentle love. In Your name, Amen.