JESUS SPEAKING
Therefore they said to him, “What sign will you perform then, that we may see it and believe you? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to world.”
Then they said to him, “Lord give us this bread always.”
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: 30-35.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
In the dessert, after leaving Egypt, the Israelites lacked the two most essential things for survival; food and water. Yet God, who had led them in to the wilderness made provision for these needs. Daily, God sent down a strange dew from heaven that settled on the desert floor; they ate the substance and were filled (the Israelites named it ‘manna,’ which means, ‘What is it?’ They didn’t know what it was; later they began to refer to it as ‘the bread from heaven.’ No matter the name, it kept them alive.) God also miraculously provided water for them out of the rocky dessert ground. Moses (God’s chosen messenger/prophet) led his people in the wilderness for nearly 40 years. He became a historical figure revered by the nation of Israel. During the time of Christ, the people did not fully understand who Jesus was; they mistakenly began to associate him with Moses; as if he were just another messenger (prophet) of God; but Jesus was not a messenger (prophet); he was the message. The Israelites would have died in the desert if God had not provided them with ‘the bread from heaven;’ similarly everyone who does not accept God’s provision in the form of Jesus Chris (‘the true bread from heaven’) will also die. God lives eternally and does not associate with the dead; to truly know God, one must also receive eternal life. Only Jesus Christ can give life to those who are dying.
Gangrene is a condition that occurs when some large portion of body tissue begins to die and needs to be amputated. In construction, many people sever fingers and rush to the hospital to have them reattached. From the time a finger is separated from the body, it begins to die (unless it is reconnected quickly it will become rancid. Many reattachments fail; the limb begins to rot, and needs to be removed to prevent death from spreading to the rest of the body. Every human being is a dying limb that has been severed from God. There is only one way to be reattached to Him. The dead must be brought to life; the sick must be healed, and new life must flow in to a lifeless Spirit. Jesus Christ is new life; only through him can we truly be joined to the eternal God.
How do we get reconnected to the living God? We must turn to God and accept Jesus Christ as His message to the world. Only Jesus can quench our thirst; only Jesus can fill us up when nothing else will; only Jesus can make our dead hearts come alive again. If you feel him calling to you, know that God is reaching out through him. He loves you, and He wants to spend an eternity with you. Will you accept his gift, or will you refuse it? The greatest act of love God has ever given us, is the freedom to choose. Make your choice; decide for yourself; choose your path; and may that path lead to eternal life.
“Lord Heavenly Father we so desperately desire new life. We want to spend an eternity with You. We believe that Your Son is the message and not just the messenger; and we accept Your invitation. May we share Your heart and be filled with love and kindness. Help us to be committed to You and to avoid the things that can lead to death. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.
Jesus Speaks 