The Bread of Life
Friday, May 5, 2017
The Bread of Life
Scripture:
Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
Deuteronomy 8:3
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
John 6:31-35
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave 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 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 shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
Luke 22:19
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
Isaiah 55:1-3
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
Devotional:
I am hungry today.
Hungry for Jesus.
I feel a little empty and bereft.
Yesterday was a sad day, a hard day, as we made arrangements to lay my father in law to rest. We are struggling with this time, and at times it feels empty and hollow. The children are unaware, but can feel the sadness we feel. We are praying for them, and hoping they will not retain a painful memory of this as not only are they young, but the memories of Grandpa have been largely of him laying in a hospital bed. We have decided not to go into depth with them at this time, because they were not close to him and because they are so little.
My husband is sad, and processing the grief of losing not only a father but the hope of a better time that won’t be coming now.
Losing a parent is hard to explain unless one has walked it. Grief is interesting, as it is both similar and completely different case by case. Until I lost my father in 2008, I did not realize how completely foreign the reality was for me. I definitely cared for and had compassion when another was walking this road, but as a pastor once pointed out those who haven’t walked out the loss of a parent aren’t able to truly feel the grief. One day here, the next day gone. For some a surprise, for others it is awhile coming.
Regardless, the world is a different place for most after losing a parent. The permanence is a bit surprising, and the air feels somehow different.
One thing that a parent represents in this life is a picture of God. When that parent is not able to provide an accurate or even somewhat accurate picture, a person can be left with a confused or unclear idea of Who God is, especially the father. Sadly, this case it true for my husband’s father. His life was sad as well, and because he could not receive the Lord while he was living his life, he was both lonely and empty himself and unavailable to his son.
He was so hungry.
The Lord has been waking me early fairly frequently lately. This morning I am so ready to feast on Him. I want to be healed, washed from the sadness of a hard day yesterday, filled with His Presence, forgiven of my wrong attitudes and selfishness, strengthened and renewed for today. I don’t want to live a life that centers around me, taking from others and giving nothing of myself. I want God to fill me, and through me touch the lives of others with His lovingkindness.
I pray that through this experience, the need for Christ would be made fully real to us all. I pray that the image of God would be clear and shine through.
As a mom, I desire that my children see me walking out hard times with my knees on the floor and my nose in the Book. I want them to see me with my head bowed and my hands lifted. I want to feast and allow God to fill me in the midst of this trying time, so that they know that when they walk out a sad time just where to go for healing. I can’t promise them that I will always be a good picture to them of Who God is, but I can show them how to press in to become more like Him. I want them to know that humbling myself is a way of life, and leaning on the Bread of Life for my sustenance is the only way to be truly filled.
Like the manna for the Israelites, I need this every day. God gives daily grace, and I need to gather it daily. I truly believe this is because He wants us to learn to spend time with Him each day, to foster that relationship and to be with Him. He desires time with us. He loves us so much! I pray that today we will all reach out and gather today’s manna for ourselves, and come prepared to feast.
Prayer:
Father, I am so thankful that You are the everlasting Father that we can rely on. You do not disappoint. You are there, available, and desire to be with us.
Today, Lord, I ask You to fill me with Your presence, with Your truth, with Your grace and Your love. Bless our home with peace, joy and contentment.
I lift up my child(ren) today. I ask that You would give them eyes to see how spending time with You will prepare them for walking out their days. Help me to represent a healthy Godly relationship to them.
I lift (area of need or concern) for Your intervention. Deliver and solve. Transform this situation by Your power.
I thank You for this family You have given. I bless You for Your plan for us.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
The Bread of Life
Scripture:
Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
Deuteronomy 8:3
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
John 6:31-35
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave 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 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 shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
Luke 22:19
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
Isaiah 55:1-3
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
Devotional:
I am hungry today.
Hungry for Jesus.
I feel a little empty and bereft.
Yesterday was a sad day, a hard day, as we made arrangements to lay my father in law to rest. We are struggling with this time, and at times it feels empty and hollow. The children are unaware, but can feel the sadness we feel. We are praying for them, and hoping they will not retain a painful memory of this as not only are they young, but the memories of Grandpa have been largely of him laying in a hospital bed. We have decided not to go into depth with them at this time, because they were not close to him and because they are so little.
My husband is sad, and processing the grief of losing not only a father but the hope of a better time that won’t be coming now.
Losing a parent is hard to explain unless one has walked it. Grief is interesting, as it is both similar and completely different case by case. Until I lost my father in 2008, I did not realize how completely foreign the reality was for me. I definitely cared for and had compassion when another was walking this road, but as a pastor once pointed out those who haven’t walked out the loss of a parent aren’t able to truly feel the grief. One day here, the next day gone. For some a surprise, for others it is awhile coming.
Regardless, the world is a different place for most after losing a parent. The permanence is a bit surprising, and the air feels somehow different.
One thing that a parent represents in this life is a picture of God. When that parent is not able to provide an accurate or even somewhat accurate picture, a person can be left with a confused or unclear idea of Who God is, especially the father. Sadly, this case it true for my husband’s father. His life was sad as well, and because he could not receive the Lord while he was living his life, he was both lonely and empty himself and unavailable to his son.
He was so hungry.
The Lord has been waking me early fairly frequently lately. This morning I am so ready to feast on Him. I want to be healed, washed from the sadness of a hard day yesterday, filled with His Presence, forgiven of my wrong attitudes and selfishness, strengthened and renewed for today. I don’t want to live a life that centers around me, taking from others and giving nothing of myself. I want God to fill me, and through me touch the lives of others with His lovingkindness.
I pray that through this experience, the need for Christ would be made fully real to us all. I pray that the image of God would be clear and shine through.
As a mom, I desire that my children see me walking out hard times with my knees on the floor and my nose in the Book. I want them to see me with my head bowed and my hands lifted. I want to feast and allow God to fill me in the midst of this trying time, so that they know that when they walk out a sad time just where to go for healing. I can’t promise them that I will always be a good picture to them of Who God is, but I can show them how to press in to become more like Him. I want them to know that humbling myself is a way of life, and leaning on the Bread of Life for my sustenance is the only way to be truly filled.
Like the manna for the Israelites, I need this every day. God gives daily grace, and I need to gather it daily. I truly believe this is because He wants us to learn to spend time with Him each day, to foster that relationship and to be with Him. He desires time with us. He loves us so much! I pray that today we will all reach out and gather today’s manna for ourselves, and come prepared to feast.
Prayer:
Father, I am so thankful that You are the everlasting Father that we can rely on. You do not disappoint. You are there, available, and desire to be with us.
Today, Lord, I ask You to fill me with Your presence, with Your truth, with Your grace and Your love. Bless our home with peace, joy and contentment.
I lift up my child(ren) today. I ask that You would give them eyes to see how spending time with You will prepare them for walking out their days. Help me to represent a healthy Godly relationship to them.
I lift (area of need or concern) for Your intervention. Deliver and solve. Transform this situation by Your power.
I thank You for this family You have given. I bless You for Your plan for us.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
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