OUR DAILY BREAD : JESUS' DIFFICULT WORDS

[cimi]

January 26
Saturday


JESUS' DIFFICULT
WORDS

READ:
John 6:44-58
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From that time many of
His disciples went back
and walked with Him
no more. __John 6:66
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Recently, a company advertised a "huggable, washable, and talking" Jesus doll that recites "actual Scripture verses to introduce children of all ages to the wisdom of the bible." Its sayings include, "I have an exciting plan for your life," and "Your life matters so much to Me. "Who wouldn't want to follow a Jesus like this?

Jesus does offer a wonderful plan for our lives. But He doesn't serve as a cosmic genie or cuddly doll to meet our every whim. John 6 gives us a picture of a Jesus who is not so cuddly__in fact, He's often offensive. Instead of fulfilling the selfish desires of His followers, He disturbed their expectations. He offered Himself as spiritual bread from heaven and said, "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life" (v.54).

This message was offensive and difficult. The image of eating flesh and drinking blood did not give His hearers "warm fuzzies." Many stopped following Him (vv.66). He wasn't the conquering Messiah-King they had expected.

Sometimes we want a Jesus who meets our selfish needs. But the wonderful life He offers is found only in radical obedience to His commands. Let's ask Jesus to show us what His words mean, and for the courage to act on his truth. __Marvin Williams
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~~~~~~~~~"We love You, Lord Jesus," we often may say,~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~But are we as ready His will to obey?~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~Let's heed what God's Spirit would have us to do,~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~For that's how we show Him a love that is true. __DJD~~~~~~
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The way of Jesus is not always easy.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ John 6:44-58**************

44 No one can come to Me
unless the Father who sent
Me draws him; and I will
raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the
prophets, "And they shall
all be taught by God."
Therefore everyone who
has heard and learned from
the Father comes to Me.
"Not that anyone has seen
the Father, except He who
is from God; he has seen
the Father. 47 Most
assuredly, I say to you, he
who believes in me has
everlasting life. 48 Your fathers
ate the manna in the
wilderness, and are dead.

50 This is the bread which
comes down from heaven,
that one may eat of it and
not die. 51 I am the living
bread which came down
from heaven. If anyone eats
of this bread, he will live
forever; and the bread that I
shall give is My flesh,
which I shall give for the
life of the world....

54 Whoever eats My flesh
and drinks My blood has
eternal life, and I will raise
him up at the last day.

55 For My flesh is food
indeed, and My blood is
drink indeed. 56 He who
eats My flesh and drinks
My blood abides in Me, and
I in him. 57 As the living
Father sent Me, and I live
because of the Father, so he
who feeds on Me will live
because of Me. 58 This is
the bread which came down
from heaven--not as your
fathers ate the manna, and
are dead. he who eats this
bread will live forever.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"I am the bread of life" (v.48) is the first of the many great "I am"
revelatinos of Jesus. He is the light (John 8:12), the door (10:7), the
good shepherd (10:11), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the
way, the truth, and the life (14:6), and the true vine (15:1). __SKT