The Bread of Life

Good morning!  Welcome to my blog!  This morning I wanted to put together a few thoughts that have been circling my mind and heart.

Next week I will be speaking at our local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group and the topic is "Cultivating a Spiritual Home".  I have been putting together some thoughts on this - what a giant topic!  My goodness.  I keep coming back to the idea that in order to cultivate a spiritual home, this has to begin with me.  I remember an illustration that I heard during my college years.  One of our instructors (Dick Grout) was talking about how when we are leading others, it is like we are the pipeline and God is the Source.  We do not want to be like some old garden hose that has been laying around and what we have to offer is warm, stale and rubbery!  We want to keep ourselves fresh where God is flowing through us and what is coming out for others is vital, refreshing and life-giving.   

I was reading in John 6 this morning where Jesus is talking about being the bread of life and how when we come to Him we will not leave hungry.  We tend to spend our energy running around looking for a sign or an answer.  Carving out time to read my Bible and pray is more "filling" than exploring a bunch of loose-ends.  Yet sometimes it is not my go-to as it should be!

In John 6:26-35, Jesus is talking with the people... I can relate to their perspective!

"Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

 

As I begin my day here and make plans for this day and the days to come, I will of course spend some time looking at our menu.  We aim to eat clean and balanced.  But what is of much greater value?  Making sure to take in the nourishment that can only come through the "Bread of Life".  There is a song that I have been listening to lately.  Check out this song and take a moment to allow Him to fill in your empty places.  Sometimes our trouble is that we don't have enough empty places because we have filled them up with other things...