The Life In You
Reading for Friday, March 19
John 6:52-59
Words. So important, so powerful. The words we speak are used by others to interpret who we are. Jesus was repudiated in Capernaum because of the words and message in this passage from John 6. They are challenging; how would I explain them to an unbelieving soul? The message of salvation is buried deep within them. Read these verses in a translation you normally don’t use, and imagine you are in the synagogue listening to Jesus Christ. What would have been your reaction; disbelief, bewilderment, suspicion?
At times I feel like an armchair quarterback Christian, able to read the scriptures and learn what others have experienced and suffered, yet find myself not taking action when injustice and persecution are staring me in the face. How does that exemplify the life in me? The sharing of the communion elements reminds us of our need to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, which we must do, according to Christ’s teaching, or you have no life in you. Did you ever take a training course but not utilize the knowledge/skills gained? Use it or lose it, as the saying goes, and so it is with our spiritual lives. How do I receive spiritual nourishment, and how do I put into practice the teachings demonstrated by our Lord and Savior? Commentary from Matthew Henry says, meat looked upon will not nourish us, but meat fed upon and so made our own becomes one with us. We must so accept of Christ as to appropriate to ourselves. As we travel on our spiritual journey, let us feed upon the elements of Christ, and learn to shine brightly so others will be able to see the life in us.
Prayer: Lord, help me to utilize your Word as the lamp to guide my feet, and the light to illuminate my path. Help me to take your Words and make them my own, and use them to advance your kingdom here on earth.
Lee Stritesky
Reading for Friday, March 19
John 6:52-59
Words. So important, so powerful. The words we speak are used by others to interpret who we are. Jesus was repudiated in Capernaum because of the words and message in this passage from John 6. They are challenging; how would I explain them to an unbelieving soul? The message of salvation is buried deep within them. Read these verses in a translation you normally don’t use, and imagine you are in the synagogue listening to Jesus Christ. What would have been your reaction; disbelief, bewilderment, suspicion?
At times I feel like an armchair quarterback Christian, able to read the scriptures and learn what others have experienced and suffered, yet find myself not taking action when injustice and persecution are staring me in the face. How does that exemplify the life in me? The sharing of the communion elements reminds us of our need to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, which we must do, according to Christ’s teaching, or you have no life in you. Did you ever take a training course but not utilize the knowledge/skills gained? Use it or lose it, as the saying goes, and so it is with our spiritual lives. How do I receive spiritual nourishment, and how do I put into practice the teachings demonstrated by our Lord and Savior? Commentary from Matthew Henry says, meat looked upon will not nourish us, but meat fed upon and so made our own becomes one with us. We must so accept of Christ as to appropriate to ourselves. As we travel on our spiritual journey, let us feed upon the elements of Christ, and learn to shine brightly so others will be able to see the life in us.
Prayer: Lord, help me to utilize your Word as the lamp to guide my feet, and the light to illuminate my path. Help me to take your Words and make them my own, and use them to advance your kingdom here on earth.
Lee Stritesky