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“Then Jesus said to them, ‘most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed’” (John 6:53 & 55, NKJV).
On the day that Jesus spoke these things many of His disciples found it hard to receive, were offended, and went back to their old ways and did not walk with Him anymore.
We read in John 1:1 & 14 that “the Word became flesh,” Jesus is the Word. Jesus also referred to Himself as the “Bread of Life” (John 6:48). So the Bible (the Word) is like saying we have “Jesus in print.” He is the Word and He is the Bread of Life. When we read our Bibles we are eating in of Jesus, and if you believe that “you are what you eat,” we become more like Him as we take in His Word.
Typically, as we eat in the natural realm, we become thirsty. As we eat in the spiritual realm (read our Bibles), the Word begins to reveal to us areas of our lives that need to be forgiven and changed. Here is where we drink the blood as we confess our sins and choose to receive God’s forgiveness (Matt. 26:27-28). As we eat in of His flesh (the Word) and drink His blood (receive forgiveness) we walk in the fullness of the Spirit and experience true life.
“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (John 6:54 & 56, NKJV).
Questions: How do you understand “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you”? How does one walk in the Spirit?
About the Author Emmie Stanley
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“Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other.” (Colossians 3:16a NLT)
Mission — Every day you teach people about God. You may teach Truth or you may teach mythology; either way you teach. You teach others that God is faithful or that he can’t be trusted, and you do that by reflecting faith in God, or by behaving as if he can’t be trusted.
As if.
Some of us carry a myth in our minds that the only people who can teach are the gifted or the professional, yet the Apostle Paul says, “I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other.” (Romans 15:14b NCV)
Certainly teaching includes unpacking Bible stories and giving theological insight, but we also teach as we model biblical behavior when it comes to the stuff of life, such as how to love/respect your spouse, how to make godly decisions, how to keep our thought-life pure, or how to get out of debt.
That means we become teachers when we tell, show, reflect how God is working in our lives, and we become teachers when we respond, act, walk as if Jesus himself were living through us (and he is – Romans 8:9-11). By watching you, others will see what “Christ in you” looks like in another human being. (Colossians 1:27 NIV)
So what?
· Being a living teacher makes you wise – Paul says, “Let the words of Christ live in your heart.” You need to know God’s Word before you can teach it through study or by living it. By hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the words of Christ, they’ll take root in your heart, and this will make you wise. (Romans 15:14b NCV)
· God’s wisdom over conventional wisdom – Too often we look to the world’s conventional wisdom when we’re seeking answers, yet the Truth is found only in God’s wisdom.
Question: What wisdom has the Lord blessed you with that you can share with others?
About this Author: Jon Walker
How can we hear God’s voice speaking to us?
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)
I love meeting people who are not highly educated, but have found a wisdom higher than the world’s wisdom. You know in meeting them that somehow they have found a sort of hideout with God where He reveals to them His secrets. Somehow, they have understood that God’s ways and His thoughts are higher and so much better, able to overshadow any wisdom of the world. The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.
Daniel acknowledged God as the revealer of deep and secret things. He sought mercies from the God of heaven and King Nebuchadnezzar ‘s dream was revealed to Daniel in a vision. I love how he acknowledged that the secret was not revealed to him because he had more wisdom than anyone living!
What’s amazing is that when Daniel revealed this secret, it persuaded King Nebuchadnezzar, and caused him to fall prostate declaring that Daniel’s God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets. He then promoted Daniel, gave him gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
I can only imagine how those that didn’t worship the God of Daniel must have thought about him being their overseer. The magicians, sorcerers and astrologers couldn’t tell the King a thing. They had nothing to offer, but Daniel could. It wasn’t because Daniel had more knowledge, or more education that he was promoted. It was because he acknowledged God as merciful and went to Him for the answers.
I believe this is a perfect picture of what God is doing throughout the earth. He is raising up those that have spent time in the secret place with Himself; those that have humbled themselves before Him, knowing that it is only by God and through placing their hearts before Him that they have anything of value to offer. It is in spending time with Him in His chambers, in His presence that He will share with us things that have not yet been revealed; ideas, cures of diseases and ways to even transform nations.
It is encouraging to me to know that “not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:26-28, NIV).
Know that as you spend time with Him, He will share with you His secrets and reveal to you deep things.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for Your mercies and Your grace upon my life. Thank you that it is You that I can come to for the answers and You alone that will bring me true fulfillment and satisfaction. I want to know You more and spend more time with You in Your Presence. Come and dwell deeper within me. I love You Lord.
Questions: Are you spending time with the Lord and drawing closer to Him?
About the Author Brigitte Straub
If you’re going through trials, and would like us to pray with you, please contact an online mentor for prayer.
Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for February 18th, AM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.
“Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.” Job 10:2, KJV
If today you are tired, worn down, and acutely feeling the pressures of daily life, perhaps the Lord is doing this to develop your graces. Some of your graces would never be discovered if it we didn’t face trials in our lives.
Do you realize that your faith never looks as grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a firefly, showing little light except when it is in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star, not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black foils in which God sets the jewels of His children’s graces, to make them shine even greater.
It may have been only a little while ago that, on your knees, you were saying, “Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith.” Were you not really, though perhaps unknowingly, praying for trials? For how can you know that you have faith until your faith is tested? God often sends us trials so that our graces may be discovered, and that we may know for sure of their existence.
It is not merely discovery. Real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains His children, not in dwellings of ease and luxury, but by using them in hard service. He makes them cross through streams, swim through rivers, climb mountains, and walk many long miles with heavy backpacks of sorrow on their shoulders. Could this sanctification account for the troubles you are facing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why He is contending with you?
“Trials make the promise sweet; Trials give new life to prayer; Trials bring me to His feet, Lay me low, and keep me there.”
Question: Do you know someone who’s been going through trials who might appreciate hearing this message?
About this Author: Charles Spurgeon
Is God too slow for you at times? Have you rushed ahead of Him on occasion only to discover trouble?
Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.
“Guide me on the road to eternal life” (Psalm 139:24b, The Message).
“My do it!” were the words he repeated over and over.
Recently I was hiking on a very challenging trail along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island. My almost three year old grandson was with me. At least one section of the trail could possibly be described as dangerous, but overall it was a combination of easy and difficult stretches. I carried him on some of the sections of our 8 kilometer hike but for some reason along this particularly dangerous section, he was determined to walk on his own.
I was very vigilant in my coaching. At times I would pick him up and lift him over difficult sections. Each time his response was, “My do it.” At one point some other hikers passed us. For some reason he was convinced that he should try to keep up with them and started going faster. I glanced behind me for a split second and when I turned back to look at him, my heart missed a beat!
My small apprentice had slipped, and was hanging over the ocean, holding onto a tree root while his feet were swinging in the air. A 5-meter drop to the water and rocks below awaited him, if he let go of that root. I grabbed his arms and lifted him to the trail. He had no idea of the danger that he had just faced. He simply said, “Thanks, Papa.” Off he went. I, on the other hand, have relived that moment many times since.
As humbling as it might seem, we are all like two year olds in our strength, knowledge and wisdom when compared to God. Just as it is dangerous for a two year old to be on his own, even for a split second because they just do not understand the dangers, so it is with us. Just as we don’t allow two year olds to hike a challenging trail on their own, we also were never intended to go through life without someone to watch over us. We are invited, but not forced, to journey with God.
There are areas of my life where I like to say, “My do it!” When I try to do it on my own, I miss out on God’s strength and wisdom. Here is a prayer from the writer of Psalms 139 that helps to motivate me to move from self reliance to God dependence.
“Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life” -Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message).
Questions: Are you tempted to rush ahead of God and live life your way? How are you motivated to move from self reliance to God dependence?
About the Author Mike Woodard
Have you been struggling in your marriage? Talk to a mentor confidentially and privately, via email.
Have you ever made decisions about your relationships based on your feelings instead of the facts? When it comes to love, feelings rule the day. Emotions guide the ship. Goose bumps call the shots. But should they? Can feelings be trusted? Can a relationship feel right but be wrong?
Feelings can fool you. Yesterday I spoke with a teenage girl who is puzzled by the lack of feelings she has for a guy. Before they started dating, she was wild about him. The minute he showed interest in her, however, she lost interest.
I’m thinking also of a young mom. Being a parent isn’t as romantic as she anticipated. Diapers and midnight feedings aren’t any fun, and she’s feeling guilty because they aren’t. Am I low on love? she wonders.
How do you answer such questions? Ever wish you had a way to assess the quality of your affection? A DNA test for love? Paul offers us one: “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6 NIV). In this verse lies a test for love.
Want to separate the fake from the factual, the counterfeit from the real thing? Want to know if what you feel is genuine love? Ask yourself this:
Do I encourage this person to do what is right? For true love “takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6 JB).
If you find yourself prompting evil in others, heed the alarm. This is not love. And if others prompt evil in you, be alert.
Here’s an example. A classic one. A young couple are on a date. His affection goes beyond her comfort zone. She resists. But he tries to persuade her with the oldest line in the book: “But I love you. I just want to be near you. If you loved me …”
That siren you hear? It’s the phony-love detector. This guy doesn’t love her. He may love having sex with her. He may love her body. He may love boasting to his buddies about his conquest. But he doesn’t love her. True love will never ask the “beloved” to do what he or she thinks is wrong.
Love doesn’t tear down the convictions of others. Quite the contrary.
“Love builds up” (1 Cor. 8:1).
“Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light and will not cause anyone to stumble” (1 John 2:10).
“You are sinning against Christ when you sin against other Christians by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong” (1 Cor. 8:12 NLT).
Do you want to know if your love for someone is true? If your friendship is genuine? Ask yourself: Do I influence this person to do what is right?
From A Love Worth Giving
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2002) Max Lucado
Used by permission
Question: Have you been influencing people you know (at home, work, school …) to do what is right?
About this Author: Max Lucado
Are you experiencing peace in your life right now? Do you want to talk to someone?
Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.
“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” (Galatians 2:20, NKJV).
In choosing to follow Jesus, we have two important decisions to make. The first one is, when we come to the understanding that Jesus died on the cross for us, and that when we receive His sacrifice on our behalf, we receive forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. Wonderful!
The second decision is when we come to see that we have been bought with a price, purchased by His blood. We are not our own, it is Christ who is to live in and through us. We must come to the point of knowing that we need to surrender our lives to Him, and allow Him to be Lord over all the details. When we are willing to make this second decision, He fills us with the power of His Holy Spirit, and we truly do become His hands and His feet to the world around us.
As those filled with the Spirit we begin to know a deep and abiding joy in spending time with Jesus through our prayer and Bible reading. We sense His presence and begin to know and experience His voice in the various ways that He speaks to us and leads us.
The fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to be evident to us and others. Our prayers go from “Lord, this is what I am going to do for you, please bless it” to “Lord, just tell me what you want me to do and I will do it!”
Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Galatians 5:24 & Romans 8:6, NKJV).
Questions: How are some ways that God speaks to you and leads you? How can the fruit of the Spirit become evident in one’s life?
About the Author Emmie Stanley
Are you dealing with addictions, or know someone who is? Try our online interactive study, Dealing with Addictions.
“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.” (Galatians 2:20, NKJV)
In choosing to follow Jesus, we have two important decisions to make. The first one is, when we come to the understanding that Jesus died on the cross for us, and that when we receive His sacrifice on our behalf, we receive forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. Wonderful!
The second decision is when we come to see that we have been bought with a price, purchased by His blood. We are not our own, it is Christ who is to live in and through us. We must come to the point of knowing that we need to surrender our lives to Him, and allow Him to be Lord over all the details. When we are willing to make this second decision, He fills us with the power of His Holy Spirit, and we truly do become His hands and His feet to the world around us.
As those filled with the Spirit we begin to know a deep and abiding joy in spending time with Jesus through our prayer and Bible reading. We sense His presence and begin to know and experience His voice in the various ways that He speaks to us and leads us.
The fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to be evident to us and others. Our prayers go from “Lord, this is what I am going to do for you, please bless it” to “Lord, just tell me what you want me to do and I will do it!”
Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Galatians 5:24 & Romans 8:6, NKJV)
Question: How could your spiritual journey be improved if surrender began to play a greater part?
About this Author: Emmie Stanley
Are you bound to sin and selfish desires? Do you want to escape from that?
Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.
“For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3. NIV).
With these words, Paul urged the Philippians to recognize who they were, to remember to whom they belonged and to live accordingly. It stands as a definition of who we are in Christ.
First of all, Paul calls us “the circumcision”.
In the book of Colossians, Paul not only clarifies that he is not talking about a physical procedure, but also explains what he means.
“In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:11, 12, NIV).
To be part of “the circumcision” means that we have put off the sinful nature. The sinful nature has been part of every human being’s make up since Adam first sinned in the garden. Therefore it’s not something we can just decide to drop and it’s gone. Rather, as Paul teaches us in these verses, Christ Himself cuts away (circumcises) our sinful nature through our faith in the power of God.
Do you know what that means?
It means we have been freed from the sinful nature. No longer are we bound to sin or forced to follow selfish desires. In a spiritual surgery, Jesus replaced our old nature with His Spirit. We are the circumcision. We refuse to have anything to do with the sinful nature. We are free.
God, I want to live in that reality, no longer dabbling in sin, but completely renouncing it through the power of Jesus.
Questions: How does knowing that Christ has cut away your sinful nature help you say no to temptation? How does this definition, of who you are in Christ, change your mindset?
About the Author Suzanne Benner
Explore the mind of Christ with our series of online interactive studies on Getting to Know Jesus.
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we must have the mind of Christ” 1 Corinthians 2:16, KJV
The first thing I do when I awaken each morning is to kneel before my Lord in humility, meditate upon His attributes, and praise, worship and adore Him.
The last thing I do before I go to bed at night is to kneel in prayer, to praise, worship and give thanks to Him. Thus, my first thoughts are automatically of Him when I awaken, because all night long my subconscious mind has been meditating on Him.
Every morning of every day, I acknowledge His lordship. I gladly surrender control of my life to Him acknowledging my dependence upon Him. Then, by faith, I claim His mind and His wisdom for direction in every detail of my life. I trust Him to influence and control my attitudes, my motives, my desires, my thoughts and my actions.
In different words and ways, I remind Him that I am a suit of clothes for Him and that He can do anything He wants in and through me. I invite Him to walk around in my body. I ask Him to think with my mind, to love with my heart, to speak with my lips, to lead me wherever He wants me to go, to seek and save the lost through me.
We should study the Word of God daily and diligently, determining as an act of the will to pattern our lives according to His commands and His example. We begin to experience the reality and the availability of the mind of Christ when we literally saturate our minds with His thoughts and spend much time meditating upon His Word.
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:9-15
Today’s Action Point: Consciously and deliberately I will begin each day by inviting Christ to walk around in my body, think with my mind, love with my heart, speak with my lips and continue to “seek and save the lost” through me.
About this Author: Bill Bright
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