Living in the Spirit
August 5, 2018
Scripture Reading: John 6:24-35
Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. –John 6:29-35
Nourished, we all long to be fully nourished. There is a difference between being nourished and eating. There is a difference in being nourished and having hunger sated. Empty calories over stimulate the feeling of hunger until we eat more empty calories. I think this is true of physical hunger. Is it also true of spiritual hunger? What are the empty calories we consume to feed our spiritual hunger like the corn syrup; trans fats; and artificial, colors, flavors, and sweeteners we crave? My guess is it is different for each of us just like food cravings are. I do not have a sweet tooth but give me salt and oil and I am in trouble. We each need to identify the things that prevent our souls from being well nourished and lay them before God to seek a better way.
I do have some understanding of what the true bread of spiritual life is. God’s abiding love and presence as conveyed through Jesus Christ nurtures each of us and feeds our spirit, even more, when it flows through us to others.
Guide me oh thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak but thou are Mighty. Bread of Heaven , Bread of Heaven
feed me till I want no more.
Bread of Heaven , Bread of Heaven feed me till I want no more.
Bread of Heaven , Bread of Heaven feed me till I want no more.*
Prayer: Bread of Life, feed me with your love until I want no more. Amen.
*First verse of Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah by William Williams see at https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Guide_Me_O_Thou_Great_Jehovah/