October 11, 2010
John 6:28-35
V 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
To be free from hunger; is to be full complete. To not need anything; to have all that will sustain your life. Jesus is that. He is what makes us complete; He alone gives us all that we need to sustain our lives. We can and do find it in Him. If we are hurting; He is our comforter. If we are overwhelmed by the trial of our lives; He is our peace. “I am the bread of life…” that’s one of my most favorite things Jesus said. To have no food will eventually lead to your death; no doubt about it. The same can be said for our spiritual food; if we never have any we will experience spiritual death. The believer must have a steady diet of God’s word.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
What are we laboring for?
October 8, 2010
John 6:22-27
V 27 do not labor for food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life
To labor is defined as physical or mental exertion. We are told to not labor for the things of this world but to labor, instead, for things eternal. What I find interesting is that we are told to labor for food that will benefit us eternally. Meaning, it won’t come easy; we won’t just have a relationship with God simply because we won’t one. No, we have to pursue it; we have to sacrifice for it.
John 6:22-27
V 27 do not labor for food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life
To labor is defined as physical or mental exertion. We are told to not labor for the things of this world but to labor, instead, for things eternal. What I find interesting is that we are told to labor for food that will benefit us eternally. Meaning, it won’t come easy; we won’t just have a relationship with God simply because we won’t one. No, we have to pursue it; we have to sacrifice for it.
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Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Be not Afraid...
October 6, 2010
John 6:20 It is I do not be afraid
Jesus sought to calm the fears of the disciples; He didn’t want them worried. Worry is an easy sin for believers to get into. I’m not saying that the disciples didn’t have cause to be frightened because, hey, it’s not every day you see someone walking on water! Yet, Jesus wanted to assure them that their fear was unnecessary. God’s word says “Be strong; fear not! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God He will come and save you. Isaiah 35:4” Of course, this isn’t easy and in some cases it’s certainly a battle. However, God’s word is clear that He will provide us with a path to not worrying but we must choose it.
John 6:20 It is I do not be afraid
Jesus sought to calm the fears of the disciples; He didn’t want them worried. Worry is an easy sin for believers to get into. I’m not saying that the disciples didn’t have cause to be frightened because, hey, it’s not every day you see someone walking on water! Yet, Jesus wanted to assure them that their fear was unnecessary. God’s word says “Be strong; fear not! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God He will come and save you. Isaiah 35:4” Of course, this isn’t easy and in some cases it’s certainly a battle. However, God’s word is clear that He will provide us with a path to not worrying but we must choose it.
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Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Where do you turn?
October 5, 2010
John 6:5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bead, so that these people may eat?”
We know the whole story. We know that this is the one who will rise from the dead; this is God as man asking this question. However, the disciples weren’t exactly privy to the end of the story yet. So, when they were confronted with 5,000 people to feed, they didn’t immediately think of Jesus. I suppose that feeding people seems mundane to all the medical miracles that He had performed in front of them. But not one turned to Him and asked Him to provide food. Yet, that’s just what He did. It’s easy for us to read this account and totally blast the disciples for their faithless unbelief that Jesus was their answer. Yet, are we any different. How many times for us is prayer our last and final choice? How many times have we said “all I can do is pray”? How many times do we turn to other things instead of scripture to answer our questions or solve our problems? I’d say that if we were honest the answers to those questions would be all the time. Yet, do we, like the disciples know and believe that God can do all things?
John 6:5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bead, so that these people may eat?”
We know the whole story. We know that this is the one who will rise from the dead; this is God as man asking this question. However, the disciples weren’t exactly privy to the end of the story yet. So, when they were confronted with 5,000 people to feed, they didn’t immediately think of Jesus. I suppose that feeding people seems mundane to all the medical miracles that He had performed in front of them. But not one turned to Him and asked Him to provide food. Yet, that’s just what He did. It’s easy for us to read this account and totally blast the disciples for their faithless unbelief that Jesus was their answer. Yet, are we any different. How many times for us is prayer our last and final choice? How many times have we said “all I can do is pray”? How many times do we turn to other things instead of scripture to answer our questions or solve our problems? I’d say that if we were honest the answers to those questions would be all the time. Yet, do we, like the disciples know and believe that God can do all things?
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Monday, October 4, 2010
A Life that Glorifies...
October 4, 2010
John 5:31-46
V 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
I recently had a discussion with someone about giving God glory. I think that sometimes the selfish humans that we are think that giving God glory is somehow about us. We sometimes think that singing loud or raising our hands and shouting in a worship service is giving God glory. Now, I’m not denying that God isn’t glorified in worship that is centered on him. However, sometimes God is glorified in our suffering. Or rather how we handle ourselves in our suffering is glorifying to God. Of course, God wants us to praise Him, but to live a life that truly glorifies Him, we must move out of the worship service and into our real everyday lives. We must make decisions that the world around us may think strange. We must realize that it takes more than emotion to glorify God; it takes lives centered on Him, it takes a growing relationship with Him.
John 5:31-46
V 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
I recently had a discussion with someone about giving God glory. I think that sometimes the selfish humans that we are think that giving God glory is somehow about us. We sometimes think that singing loud or raising our hands and shouting in a worship service is giving God glory. Now, I’m not denying that God isn’t glorified in worship that is centered on him. However, sometimes God is glorified in our suffering. Or rather how we handle ourselves in our suffering is glorifying to God. Of course, God wants us to praise Him, but to live a life that truly glorifies Him, we must move out of the worship service and into our real everyday lives. We must make decisions that the world around us may think strange. We must realize that it takes more than emotion to glorify God; it takes lives centered on Him, it takes a growing relationship with Him.
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Saturday, October 2, 2010
With Your Strength you Strengthened Me...
October 2, 2010
1 Corinthians 10:39 So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God
Psalm 138:3 You answered me when I called to you; with your strength you strengthened me.
In January, I started praying that God would help me to rid myself of this overwhelming love for vast quantities of food. I mean I really like food, and lots of it. So, I knew that this was wrong, and sought God’s help to get rid of it. He did. I also around May started praying that God would help me in my physical fitness. He did. Every morning He would convict me to get out of my bed (even in the summer) to go run. Well today I’m doing my first 5k this is something totally foreign to me but God brought me here. Thank you!
1 Corinthians 10:39 So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God
Psalm 138:3 You answered me when I called to you; with your strength you strengthened me.
In January, I started praying that God would help me to rid myself of this overwhelming love for vast quantities of food. I mean I really like food, and lots of it. So, I knew that this was wrong, and sought God’s help to get rid of it. He did. I also around May started praying that God would help me in my physical fitness. He did. Every morning He would convict me to get out of my bed (even in the summer) to go run. Well today I’m doing my first 5k this is something totally foreign to me but God brought me here. Thank you!
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Thursday, September 30, 2010
Hanging on...
September 30, 2010
John 5:30
V 30 I can do nothing on my own
No truer words have ever been said!..For me at least. I am finding that this is even more true lately in my life. I am almost drowning and my only means of staying afloat is hanging on to Him who strengthens me.
John 5:30
V 30 I can do nothing on my own
No truer words have ever been said!..For me at least. I am finding that this is even more true lately in my life. I am almost drowning and my only means of staying afloat is hanging on to Him who strengthens me.
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Children do What They See...
September 28, 2010
John 5:19-29
V 19 Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing…
I know I’m going way out on the comparative limb here. I know that in this passage Christ is affirming that He is sent by God and is doing the work of God and has authority given to Him by God. However, I was caught by the thought that Jesus “sees the Father doing.” As I thought of that I wondered if my children would be so rightly influenced by what I am doing. If they were to live their lives by what they saw me doing would that be good for them, spiritually. I must sadly admit that the answer to that is sometimes. Sometimes, they would but sometimes they would not. However, as I continually point them to Christ He will always show them how to live and walk godly. And that’s really the point…to show them Christ.
John 5:19-29
V 19 Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing…
I know I’m going way out on the comparative limb here. I know that in this passage Christ is affirming that He is sent by God and is doing the work of God and has authority given to Him by God. However, I was caught by the thought that Jesus “sees the Father doing.” As I thought of that I wondered if my children would be so rightly influenced by what I am doing. If they were to live their lives by what they saw me doing would that be good for them, spiritually. I must sadly admit that the answer to that is sometimes. Sometimes, they would but sometimes they would not. However, as I continually point them to Christ He will always show them how to live and walk godly. And that’s really the point…to show them Christ.
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Friday, September 24, 2010
Compassion
September 24, 2010
John 5:1-17
V 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for 38 years
I am amazed at the contrast between Jesus and the Jews. Of course, there really isn’t any comparison between the two but in this story the fact that Jesus is compassionate and the Jews are not is glaringly obvious. This man had lived his life for 38 years with some sort of disability; in this day in time to live to be 38 was in and of itself unusual but to do so with an infirmity is even more so. According to the passage, he would go to this pool and would try to be the first one in. It was believed that the first one in when the waters were stirred would be healed. Yet, this man was never first. I can’t help thinking that no one knew of this man’s plight. No one knew that he needed help. Yet, no one came to him; no one offered him an ounce of compassion. Until he meets Jesus, and is healed. The Jewish hierarchy of the day has nothing to say except to condemn Jesus for healing on a Sabbath, and reprimand this man for carrying his bed roll. What? Yet, are we different. How many times have we ignored someone who needed help? How many times have we begrudged someone something because we thought they didn’t need it or worse wished we had it? Unfortunately, I’m afraid that on occasion we have a lot in common with the Jews.
John 5:1-17
V 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for 38 years
I am amazed at the contrast between Jesus and the Jews. Of course, there really isn’t any comparison between the two but in this story the fact that Jesus is compassionate and the Jews are not is glaringly obvious. This man had lived his life for 38 years with some sort of disability; in this day in time to live to be 38 was in and of itself unusual but to do so with an infirmity is even more so. According to the passage, he would go to this pool and would try to be the first one in. It was believed that the first one in when the waters were stirred would be healed. Yet, this man was never first. I can’t help thinking that no one knew of this man’s plight. No one knew that he needed help. Yet, no one came to him; no one offered him an ounce of compassion. Until he meets Jesus, and is healed. The Jewish hierarchy of the day has nothing to say except to condemn Jesus for healing on a Sabbath, and reprimand this man for carrying his bed roll. What? Yet, are we different. How many times have we ignored someone who needed help? How many times have we begrudged someone something because we thought they didn’t need it or worse wished we had it? Unfortunately, I’m afraid that on occasion we have a lot in common with the Jews.
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Thursday, September 23, 2010
Believing....
September 23, 2010
John 4:46-54
V 50…the man believed the work that Jesus spoke to him
A distraught man, possibly a soldier in the Roman army, is chasing after Jesus in order that Jesus could heal his son. I think that’s it’s interesting that this man knew where to go in times of trouble. Same is true with us; when we have trouble we know where to go, to Jesus. However, unlike this man; we don’t always believe. This man immediately knew that Jesus had healed his son. He asked and knew that Jesus would answer. I think that sometimes when we pray we only half-way do it, never really expecting that God could answer. Now we would never say that because we KNOW that God answers prayers but our actions speak louder. When instead, of letting God work in the situation we try to fix it ourselves. This man turned around and left believing; he knew there was nothing else he could do, Jesus had done it all.
John 4:46-54
V 50…the man believed the work that Jesus spoke to him
A distraught man, possibly a soldier in the Roman army, is chasing after Jesus in order that Jesus could heal his son. I think that’s it’s interesting that this man knew where to go in times of trouble. Same is true with us; when we have trouble we know where to go, to Jesus. However, unlike this man; we don’t always believe. This man immediately knew that Jesus had healed his son. He asked and knew that Jesus would answer. I think that sometimes when we pray we only half-way do it, never really expecting that God could answer. Now we would never say that because we KNOW that God answers prayers but our actions speak louder. When instead, of letting God work in the situation we try to fix it ourselves. This man turned around and left believing; he knew there was nothing else he could do, Jesus had done it all.
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