Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Search Archive Print This Article Table prayer Wednesday, April 21, 1999 John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." For a Christian, this proclamation of Jesus is the ultimate comfort; it's God's supernatural response to the physical needs and limits of life on earth. When I hear Jesus saying this I feel safe. I also feel full. Fine foods are so easy to come by in my world. Sourdough bread, kalamata olives, cheddar cheese, smoked ham, grilled salmon, milk, oranges, bananas, sweet peas, basil, chives, honey, eggs, apples, maple syrup ... whoa! No wonder I'm gaining weight. The flavors and colors of the earth-harvest satisfy my hunger and my thirst. Since I would like to lose some weight, I think I'll memorize this verse and use it as part of my self-talk. Sometimes I hear people described as spiritual heavyweights. Does this mean they eat less and trust Jesus more to fill them up with his bread of life? When Jesus says "You cannot serve both God and mammon," he is describing the dilemma the Pharisees resolved by saying, "He speaks of another world, and we live in this one." Jesus says instead, "You are in the world, but not of the world. ... Seek first the kingdom of God." It's what I do first that makes the difference. If I eat my fill of bread and cheese, I have much less hunger for the spirit, I want to sleep. But if first I take the bread of life from Jesus' hands, then I eat my meal in peace, rest in peace, live in harmony with both worlds. It's only your food, Lord, that fills me from the inside out. Thank you. "; Add      Edit    Delete