Ezekiel 16-18; John 6

He came so that we could have life.

Old Testament reading of a nation’s beauty, nurtured and tended, turned prostitute. God says of sin:

⁴ For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die. Ezekiel 18:4, NLT.

The warnings whisper through time, woven in example after example. Sin kills.

³⁰ “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you! ³¹ Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? ³² I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live! Ezekiel 18:30-32, NLT.

God speaks and HE is judge. It is not for me to sit back and tally offenses (help me, God, help me). He looks at it all, he is judge.

I was thinking on a New Testament story of a man who asked, “Who is my neighbor?” And then wondered to myself, “Who is my enemy?” God says to bless our enemies, to pray for those who persecute–and I read these verses and think of his heart: Turn back and live. Whether I or another falls into sin, it grieves his heart and he wants something better–will not forsake me and speaks over me: turn back and live.

Sin kills. It breaks apart families and friendships. It snares a heart and squeezes tightly. Lord, you came so that we could have life, and not just eternal life, but life TODAY.

Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

“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.” John 6:27b, NLT.

Where do I spend my energy? Is my time spent clinging to sin that strangles–ensnared in a trap? Lord, I seek and pursue you–you are my peace and my freedom.

³² 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. ³³ The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

³⁵ 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. ³⁶ But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. ³⁷ However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. ³⁹ And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰ For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:32-40, NLT.

Lord, give me that bread every day. This is me: seeking, reaching, grasping, praying–and there you are: looking at me and not past me, never rejecting or losing me; life giving, heart changing, bread of life.

Courtney (66books365)

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Exodus 27, John 6, Proverbs 3, Galatians 2

Read at – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ex.%2027;%20John%206;%20Prov.%203;%20Gal.%202&version=NKJV

Exodus 27    You shall make an altar … You shall also make the court of the tabernacle…. And you shall command…

            The details for the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Court of the Tabernacle are too much for me to build and to maintain. Lord God, I am deeply and gratefully indebted to You for having managed all the details of my sacrificial offering for all of my sins by Your only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Your Son Jesus did it once and for all. If it were up to me alone, I could never make it into Paradise. (1)

             And even the care of the Lampstand is beyond my ability. I will forget, get distracted, get caught up in the “works” of it and not maintain the humble and worshipful attitude You desire and deserve. So in Your Omniscience and Omnipotence, Merciful Father, You chose to indwell within me by Your Holy Spirit! You counsel me, remind me, equip, enable and sanctify me – so that I am, more and more, a bright light for all to see so that people may see Your good works and glorify You, my Father! (2)

           Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for the sanctification process. I am overjoyed for times like now, when You, my Potter, have completed a section, so I am in a season of refreshment! (3) 

John 6           Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. Then Jesus said, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” … One of His disciples, Andrew, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

             I love this part! Andrew takes Jesus’ cue and looks for food to serve the people. Andrew trusts Jesus enough to go into action. Andrew does not come up empty handed either! He has something to offer the Lord. Yet, he thinks it isn’t enough. Andrew is right. In and of ourselves, nothing is sufficient. But Andrew loves and trusts Jesus enough to know to ask the Lord Jesus, “what are they among so many?” In response to Andrew’s desire which matched Jesus’ desire, Jesus does what Jesus Does – Jesus multiplies the “one small boy sized portion” which was brought, to Him to feed thousands of people! – With a large basket of leftovers for each disciple!  (4)

            Lord, I give You my heart, soul, mind and strength for You to take all of me to multiply Yourself to everyone you have me encounter! Make Yourself known, magnifying Yourself to the multitudes!

John 6           The sea arose because a great wind was blowing. … they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; … they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

            Lord Jesus, may I please walk with You? Holding Your hand, I will not be afraid of my situation, circumstances, or future. May I gleefully, by faith in You, look expectantly for Your coming on the waves, me walking with You as Owner, Ruler and Authority over whatever is going on! By my doing so, I trust that I will watch You save many souls from hell, mature the saints for Your paramount service and bring Yourself unsurpassed Glory! This is the desire of my heart! (5)

John 6           Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. … everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” … he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—… He who eats this bread will live forever.”

            I hunger for Your Righteousness, Lord Jesus. I feed on Your Word ravenously. I am satisfied when I continue chewing, ingesting and exercising what You have given me. Thank You! And then, after I work it off, seeing sin, unrighteousness, being in dis-unity, I hunger and thirst again. It is an unending cycle, though the Food content alters. Sometimes I feed on Your Word of Your attributes or Your creation, praise or crying out, or Your actions while You lived on earth,… Oh so much to feast on! I never tire of You, Beloved Father! (6)

            But there is a responsibility You give me, and everyone who is forgiven and changed by Your Word, my Master. I must pour out what You pour into me. I must freely give what You have freely given me. I must comfort those with the comfort You give me. I must teach those what Your Word teaches me. I must love with the love Your Word and Holy Spirit love on me. “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48 I yield by the Holy Spirit Power You give me Lord Jesus Christ. I rejoice for the honor of Your call and seeing Your transformations!  (7)

Proverbs 3               My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

            Lord God, I do not despise Your chastening nor detest Your correction because I know it means that You love and delight in me as My Father and You will bring me into  closer intimacy with You. You must love me Tons because of all the correction You give me! I am overwhelmingly appreciative to be Your child whom You delight in. I learn from You every day! (8)

Proverbs 3               Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. … Happy is the man who finds wisdom … let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion; For the Lord will be your confidence … His secret counsel is with the upright.

            Holy One of Israel, I find solace and effective wisdom in Your Word. You impart to me Your compassion, understanding, mercy, grace and truth for my words for others. I am grateful that You train me to obey Your Word, to trust You above my own feelings or faulty thinking. I am learning ever increasingly how unwise I am, and how Brilliant are Your Ways!!  I delight in You, my Father and Savior!  I fear You, so I am thrilled and Joyously run from evil and run to You. May it always be so! By my exercising the wisdom You give me, I am happy and I deeply enjoy Your secret counsel to me. Your abundant grace upon me is very humbling, Lord Jesus.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,…The wise shall inherit glory, Proverbs 3

Galatians 2               For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

            What a miracle Father! That You would trade Your only begotten Son Jesus’ honorable life for my wretched life and destiny of condemnation to hell!  Unfathomable in the world’s economy – but Perfect in Love and Power in Heaven’s economy! Grace, unmerited favor, is all over this!! I am so grateful it was You, Lord God Jesus Christ, because You alone could rise from the dead! And I can be with You now and forever!!!

             Because of Your extravagant love on me, my debt of love beckons me to live for You always, my Christ. I ceaselessly desire for others to come to the saving knowledge of You, Sovereign Savior, and to mature IN Christ Jesus, so they will bear fruit for Your glory alone unendingly!

            Lord God, by Your indwelling Holy Spirit, You live through me. You continually caution me to not seek my fleshly desires and pleasures, but seek Your kingdom, righteousness and purposes so that Truly, the desires of my heart are met! And by my living by faith in Your Son Jesus daily, I see what You are doing, and am increasingly excited for the new, fresh new things You will do in and around me! Life is truly an adventure through communication with You by thought, word and action!

            My friend’s family which I help, the strangers I speak with, my family members I serve, – all are affected by Your Higher view and wisdom. Their hearts process Your Word to turn to You, away from sin and bitterness. And it’s only because of You Lord God! No one can change a person. But Your Word changes everything! I am so excited that You, Word of God, Jesus Christ, are so powerful, effective and victorious!! All praise and glory to the one High King of kings, the Lord Jesus Christ! (9)

In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:4

Bible Insights –

1 – James 2:10; John 3:16-17; Hebrews 10:10; Romans 6:10; Hebrews 9; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:23-24; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1-2

2 – Matthew 5:16; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:49; Philippians 2:12-18; Ezekiel 11:19-21; Ezekiel 36:25-29; Jeremiah 31:33-34; 1 Peter 1:23; Acts 13:52; John 15:7-11; John 15:26-27; John 3:5-8

3 – 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 , Isaiah 64:8,  Acts 3:19

4 – John 15:4-5, Psalm 37:4, Psalm 23:5, Luke 6:38   

5 – Psalm 37:4

6 – Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4, John 4:32, 34, John 1:1-3, 14

7 – 1 Peter 1:23; Matthew 10:8; Luke 7:47; 2 Corinthians 1:4; Psalm 51:12-13; Romans 1:16; Deuteronomy 6:7; Titus 2:1-5; John 15:12; 1 John 3:1; Luke 12:48; John 14:12

8 – Luke 18:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 14:26; Psalm 86:11; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 3:1; John 17:17; Psalm 25:5

9 – 1 John 3:1; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 10:38; Galatians 3:11; John 3:30; Luke 2:49; John 4:32-38; Psalm 37:4; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; Hebrews 4:12-13; Isaiah 55:11

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)

Leviticus 14, Mark 8:1-21

One as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the one to be cleansed.” Leviticus 14:31

When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied. “

And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”

He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” Mark 8:19-21

My Guilt Offering

I pretended to be asleep, while my husband let our dog out at 3am. The next morning I noticed I hadn’t refilled the dog’s water bowl. Her thirst had been the urgent need which I caused. I felt terrible about my disregard for both my dog and my husband.

Satisfying the dog was easy, but how could I make it up to my husband? I texted my apology. He said he wasn’t angry, just really tired. I felt like I needed to do something to show him that I was truly repentant. My guilt offering consisted of a special meal when he came home from work that evening. I continued my atonement sacrifice by getting up and letting the dog out before she could deprive my spouse of sleep.

The Ultimate Guilt Offering

Jesus satisfied 4000 people with only seven loaves of bread. He seemed annoyed that the apostles didn’t understand the significance of the seven and twelve baskets of bread left over after his miraculous feeding of the multitudes.

I’m not sure I get that either. Here’s what I’ve some up with so far.

Under the old covenant, the high priest made atonement for our uncleanness with animal sacrifices and food offerings. The Torah – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy,  foreshadowed the Messiah in the symbolism of the temple furnishings and sacrifices. God’s divine number, seven meant fulfillment and completion while twelve was a symbol for God’s elective purpose. (bible.org) Jesus referred to himself as the true bread from heaven, the Bread of Life. Ultimately, Jesus fulfilled his Godly purpose by offering up his body as the bread of life to satisfy the sin debt of multitudes of thousands upon thousands.

What do you think Jesus wanted the apostles to understand?

yicareggie

Exodus 27, John 6, Proverbs 3, Galatians 2

Of all the passages in God’s Word, today’s are among some of the most beautiful.  It would serve my purpose (and I think God’s) to simply quote them back verbatim here…  but they ARE long chapters, and I’m told I must be brief 🙂

I can’t help getting caught up in the love story though.  God’s love story.  Sometimes it gets me, and I’m overcome with emotion.  The eternal saga of a Holy God wooing to Himself a race of fallen men.  It is a story that never ceases to amaze me, most likely because undeservedly, I am one of the fallen, grateful to be in the process of being perfected.  A daughter in whom the Father delights…  wow.  Obviously, having done nothing to deserve His loving attention… but, I’m definitely not complaining!!

So in the sixth chapter of John, today we read of a loving God that provided bread from Heaven in the wilderness that gave life to His people…  which of course is meant to call our attention to the loving Father that provided Living Bread from Heaven that gives life to the world.  Jesus.  The Bread of Life.

“As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.”  John 6.57

“This is the bread that came down from heaven , not as the fathers ate and died.  Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”  John 6.58

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.  And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”  John 6:51

Lord, I am hungry.  Feed me.

“…the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith

in the Son of God

who loved me and

gave himself

for me.”

Galatians 2:20

O God, that we would come to You and be satisfied!  To believe Your words of eternal life and be filled forever.  Jesus, You are the Bread of Life who came down from heaven, who lived, who died, and live again.   You gave Yourself, for me.  Yourself, for me.   That’s the part that gets me EVERY time.

Sweet Savior.  Lover of men.

Bread of Life.  Living Water.  Giver of everything. 

I am SO mesmerized by You, won by your winsomeness.
Wooed by love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my strength, my all.
Thank You for the gift of You.

amy in peru

Ex. 16; Luke 19; Job 34; 2 Cor. 4

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)

So many words jumping out at me. It started with manna in the desert. A grumbling bunch starving as they wandered. But the Lord provided … quail in the evening, bread in the morning. Moses tells Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.” A testimony of God’s provision. Life-giving bread. Treasure in a jar.

And in Luke, reading the Parable of the Ten Minas. One man, then another, stands before the king, each one is commended for his work, his investment. Except for this one man who hid the treasure in a cloth, like a secret. Never invested.

I wondered about this parable: what did the mina stand for? I had always supposed it was spiritual gifts. Today I wondered, was it the word of God?

The Good News.

Jesus, Bread of Life.

Convicted in this, I wondered how my own investment was going. Teaching Jesus to my children, yes. And good. But my go-to friends, they’re all Christians. While we learn things together and encourage one another, I realized my investment lies largely in this.  Still, good, but when have I  recently invested in the life of an unbeliever and shared the good news of Jesus Christ?

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

From the desert–bread of life, the all-surpassing power from God–to treasure to be invested: Bread of Life to feed the hungry, the grumbling, the wandering. All of us.

Courtney (66books365)