1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 min)
2) Scripture Reading - John 6:41-59
41 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
3) Devotional
Isn't it funny how hard it is to simply take Jesus at His word? To embrace the life giving power of His Spirit? To rest in the peace that comes from trusting in His word? In this passage, He spoke some pretty life giving truths to His disciples, and all they could do is murmur over what He meant by the phrase "I came down from heaven." They missed the essence of who Jesus is, and what He could bring to the relationships he hoped to have with them.
Isn't it funny how hard it is to simply take Jesus at His word? To embrace the life giving power of His Spirit? To rest in the peace that comes from trusting in His word? In this passage, He spoke some pretty life giving truths to His disciples, and all they could do is murmur over what He meant by the phrase "I came down from heaven." They missed the essence of who Jesus is, and what He could bring to the relationships he hoped to have with them.
Men (and women) are a mysterious bunch! I think our natural bent is to search out conflict. People thrive in it. We so often get caught up in and fight over, the insignificant details and miss the true essence of the Gospel. Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost! He cares about the poor and the marginalized. He loves people and so desires to be their life giving bread. . . just because.
People like. . . Anthony Weiner. I feel sorry for him. Here's a guy who has seemingly lost his way. At one time a potential NY mayoral candidate, and now a broken man, ready to resign his Congressional seat. He made bad choices. Truth of the matter is. . . we all make them, and its for people like us, that Jesus came to be life giving bread.
As a follow of Jesus, pray for Congressman Weiner, and for the people you know that need life giving bread. Walk away from contributing to the innuendo or seamy gossip, and instead pray that God Himself would speak into their lives (yours as well), and bring forgiveness, healing and peace. It's why He came!!
4) Questions to Consider
Is there someone in my life who I can build up with the truth of the Gospel and pray for each day, instead of belittling through demeaning talk? Ask God to show you. . . and I believe He will. What father would give his son stones if he asks for life giving bread!
Is there someone in my life who I can build up with the truth of the Gospel and pray for each day, instead of belittling through demeaning talk? Ask God to show you. . . and I believe He will. What father would give his son stones if he asks for life giving bread!
5) Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to be a channel of your peace. Help me to love with the supernatural life giving love that can only come from being in a trust filled relationship with You. Use me to encourage ___________________ (fill in the blank) today, instead of tearing him down. Let my words by like a soothing ointment. In Jesus name, amen!
Lord Jesus, help me to be a channel of your peace. Help me to love with the supernatural life giving love that can only come from being in a trust filled relationship with You. Use me to encourage ___________________ (fill in the blank) today, instead of tearing him down. Let my words by like a soothing ointment. In Jesus name, amen!
