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Today’s Reading:  Ezekiel 16-18 and John 6

The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible contains several important messages. One of the central themes is the concept of Jesus as the “Bread of Life.”

This chapter recounts the story of Jesus miraculously feeding a large crowd, some scholars think over 15,000 which included men, women, and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish. Afterward, Jesus teaches that he is the true sustenance for spiritual life, emphasizing the importance of faith in him for eternal life.

Here are some key messages from John 6:

The Bread of Life: Jesus uses the feeding of the crowd as a metaphor to teach that he is the true nourishment for the soul. Just as physical bread sustains physical life, Jesus provides spiritual sustenance for eternal life.

Faith in Jesus: Jesus emphasizes the necessity of believing in him for eternal life. He says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35, NIV).

Eternal Life through Jesus: Jesus promises that those who believe in him will have eternal life. He says, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:40, NIV).

The Role of the Father: Jesus emphasizes that his mission and purpose are in alignment with the will of the Father. He states that he has been sent by the Father to accomplish specific tasks.

The Resurrection and the Last Day: Jesus speaks of the future resurrection of believers, assuring them that they will be raised up on the last day.

The Importance of Spiritual Understanding: Jesus challenges his followers to seek spiritual understanding beyond physical signs and miracles. He encourages them to focus on the deeper spiritual truths he is teaching.

Division and Rejection: The chapter also highlights how some of Jesus’ followers struggled with his teachings, leading to division and, for some, a decision to stop following him.

Overall, John 6 emphasizes the significance of faith in Jesus as the means to obtain eternal life and underscores the idea that Jesus provides spiritual nourishment and fulfillment in a way that nothing else can. This chapter also foreshadows Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, which would become the ultimate demonstration of his role as the Bread of Life.

This is a key chapter where Jesus started to see many of His followers doubt Him.  They could not reconcile Jesus’ reference to “the flesh as food” and “blood as drink.”  The extended crowds and disciples that chose to follow Him, due to the many miracles and acts Jesus had performed, left Jesus.  They heard Jesus’ message in the literal sense rather than as a parable.

Jesus very clearly started to see at that point, it was the beginning of strife and ultimately the divisiveness amongst the Jewish people that would ultimately cost Him his life.

Today’s reading:  Ezekiel 10-12, Psalm 83, John 4

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God (Ezekiel 11:19-20).

Israel had sinned and God’s punishment had come.  God used the fall of Jerusalem and his people’s exile to Babylon to draw his people back from their sinful ways.  In chapter 11, the prophet Ezekiel reminded them that, in addition to the nation being responsible for sin, each individual was also personally accountable to God.

Today, we are also accountable to God for the choices we make.  When we turn from sin and let God work in our lives, he will replace our selfish hearts of stone with ones that are tender, receptive and responsive to his leading.  This is what Ezekiel 11:19 calls an “undivided heart”.  A new heart with new motives, focused entirely on the truth and light of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let there be no doubt I am the God of all Creation
God of glory and the God of love
And I have called you out, out of the many nations
To be my people so let me your God

Your heart of stone I will remove, I’ll put a heart of flesh inside of you
One I can touch, one I can move, and one that beats in time with the truth (Rich Mullins, 1896).

Today’s reading: Ezekiel 1-3, John 1

Have you ever been given an assignment in school or in your career which may seem insurmountable?  While working  with my children on their homework,  they are excited or frustrated with some of the homework. These are new concepts to them that they do not understand and are trying to piece them together.  As a a dad, I find how to solve the question or how to understand the question. In my job, I have puzzles given to me several times an hour and  these puzzles sometimes are easy to solve, but sometimes they are difficult to solve. Sometimes these puzzles and assignments seem overwhelming, but these do not even compare the assignment that Ezekiel was given from God.

A couple of items that I learned in researching Ezekiel,  1.) Ezekiel was given his vision on his 30th birthday, 2.) Ezekiel was to become a priest for the people, 3.) Ezekiel was in exile when he is getting these visions and assignments. So Ezekiel is in the midst of this major change of his life while he is given a new assignment to go and proclaim to the people about what is going on.

“The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/ezk.2.4-7.ESV

One of the main words that I have for Ezekiel is obedience and persistence. Ezekiel is obedient to God by listening to God‘s command and performing his assignment and his job without fail. Ezekiel is even given a mandate that “ the job that you are going to do you’re not going to succeed in. You’re given the job that you’re going to have to continually do the things that I am requesting of you but you may not succeed.” Let that sink in for a moment. You’re given assignment that you know that the outcome may not be favorable but you have to perform the task.

What are the main takeaways from today’s reading is that when given a assignment from God, we have to understand that he will be there for us and that he is able  to uplift us in the midst of the hardship and heartache, and the joys and the trails. We have to learn to rely and rest in him and be diligent workers no matter the assignment.  It will not be easy sometimes, but the reward is worth it. Be blessed.

When you were born, God gave you a unique and specialized DNA designed just for you. You were given a brain that can think, learn and interpret data. You were given a heart that can feel a whole range of emotions from anger and fear to joy and contentment. From the day you arrived in this world you have grown in size and stature while your brain has matured and acquired knowledge for life.

Today in our reading of 2 Peter 1 we learn that when you become a believer, God does something incredible in your life.

Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.
2 Peter 1:3

Did you know that if you believe in God and have been born again, you are equipped to live for Him? The verse above tells us everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us.
Just like when you were born you physically grow and mature, when you are spiritually born again, you are given a new mind and a new heart. God gives you everything at that moment that you will need to grow spiritually. He equips you to be able to live a godly life. But, just having that ability inside of you is not enough. It is up to you to grow and develop your spiritual life.

How do we grow spiritually?

As a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises we can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which you have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.
1 Peter 1:4

We grow spiritually when we read, study and apply the promises in God’s Word, the Bible. The Bible is the food we need that enables us to grow spiritually. We have to make an effort and discipline ourselves to grow.

So devote yourselves to lavishly supplementing your faith with goodness, add understanding, and to understanding add the strength of self-control, and to self-control add patient endurance, and to patient endurance add godliness, and to godliness add mercy toward your brothers and sisters, and to mercy toward others add unending love. Since these virtues are already planted deep within, and you possess them in abundant supply, they will keep you from being inactive or fruitless in your pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately.
2 Peter 1:5-8

We grow spiritually when we put all the above disciplines in practice. When put these into practice we will know Jesus more intimately. Knowing Jesus more intimately changes the way we live our lives. People will look at us and wonder what the difference is. The difference is that we have an intimate relationship with Jesus and seek Him daily.

Today’s Readings: Lamentations, Psalm 137, 1 Peter 4

Over the weekend, we observed the horrific acts of the terrorist organization Hamas, with their attack on Israel.  The “war” between the Muslims and the Jewish people is a battle since the beginning of time.  This is a religious war that knows no boundaries and likely will never be settled while man is still in control of earth.

Ironically, one of our readings for today describes the historical account of the fall of Jerusalem. The Jewish people have endured grave suffering throughout the history of time.  One our readings today, Lamentations, is an emotional scripture written by Jeremiah that described the “funeral of a city,” when Jerusalem was overtaken by the Babylonians.

Even in the deepest days of despair, Jeremiah exclaimed in Lamentations 3:21-26; 21 “Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 The Lord is my portion, says my soul. Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

As we look to live peaceful, happy, and fulfilled lives, we are reminded each day that our desire is only possible to a certain extent.  1 Peter 4:12 says “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.”

How about that?  Scripture tells us we will not be spared from tough times.  The prophet Peter tells us to expect trials and challenges and not be surprised.  We should expect it.

In fact, Peter tells us in verse 13, “but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

Peter is telling us to stand by our belief in Christ.  The challenges and sin of the world will test our faith, question our resolve to follow Christ, and ultimately pressure us to turn away from our Savior.  Pain and suffering can break us.  Despair and sadness can deject us to the point where we “lose our way.” Our worldly minds cause us to question the need or the reason for the suffering and sadness and “lay our sorrows at the feet of Christ” and question why He is allowing us to suffer, and ultimately questions whether our God exists.

We can live our lives in fear every day, that tragedy or calamities await us.  War, pandemics, violent crime, health issues, death…and the list goes on. We can spin ourselves into a life of despair and doubt, constantly worrying about the next bad thing that may happen in our life.

My profound belief that if we are right with God, we will not be afraid.  Our resolve and tenacity to persevere through the worst of times solely depends on our ability to focus on the faith we have in Jesus, that He has a plan, and all our suffering and trails will be revealed when we get to Heaven.   Fear not, God has got you!