Bread of Life Archives – Sonshine's Journal

May 7, 2024May 7, 2024

Hungry?Thirsty?

Ps 42 Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount and said, blessed is he who hungers and thirsts for righteousness for he will be satisfied. The psalmist has a similar idea in this psalm,only he just refers to thirst. Thirst is one of the greatest and most deadly of needs. Without water one ceases to exist. The psalmist says he will wait on the Lord which brings us to the second principle; waiting. We can be hungry and we can be thirsty, but will we choose to wait on God’s timing to provide both? What am I hungering for? What am I thirsty for?

The Israelites are a perfect example. They were thirsty in the wilderness but instead of waiting on God, they murmured before Him. They were hungry but instead of waiting on God’s provision they murmured. God was angry at them at their lack of trusting Him for His provision.

Am I murmuring before God for His lack of provision all because I am not willing to wait on His timing? What am I thirsty for? Is it for the living water that God can provide or do I seek the water of that which only satisfies for now and not for the rest of my days?

June 2, 2015

“From Slough of Despond to Walking with Jesus!”

Until we come to grips who we were before we were touched by the Bread of Life through His pouring out of the Living Water upon our dead souls, we are incapable of understanding the power of the rejuvenating work of the Holy Spirit. The testimony of the blind man reveals the wonder given to a man born in blindness which is how we were. “I do know one thing – that although I was blind, now I can see.”[Jn 9] In addition we were a slave to our master the Devil, and as a lover of darkness we did his bidding. Jesus told the Pharisees; you do what your father desires, murdering and plotting murder. We were in this “slough of despond”[1] of the very things God hates! (see Prov 6:16-19)

It was into this Jesus came to rescue us pouring out upon us His unblemished blood to wash our scarlet sins to become white like wool that God Himself may get the praise and glory. Thus we who were dead in our sins and trespasses have been “saved through faith—not of works for they are as filthy rags in His sight. [Is 64] But, rather God lavished his gift upon us awakening us from the dead through the power of the Holy Spirit. And now as alive we are to perform what He predestined us to do: good works as a testimony to His work in us.

[1] Quote from Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan’

April 22, 2014

Forever is a Huge Word…It Means Forever and Ever and Ever…

Peter has spent an entire chapter grabbing our attention as to who we are in Christ. We who have chosen Christ are now the chosen of Him. He who was called to be our sacrifice now calls us to feed, shepherd, and tend His flock. He who was elected to stand in our place now places upon us the mark of election that we may know without a shadow of doubt that we are His forever and ever and ever. We are sealed and engraved, impressed deeply on the nail pierced palms.

Therefore, as living stones and as His elected ones we have the mighty position as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own for the task set before us: to go and proclaim the virtues of the one who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. We are now aligned perfectly with our Cornerstone. And it all began because of His great mercy poured out upon us.

To be adequately prepared for our task Peter says that this is an honor only bestowed upon those who have believe in the Cornerstone. The mandate is clear: be holy as He is holy. Our first duty is to be fed from the Living Water and the Bread of Life so that we may grow and offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Do you have an appetite for the Bread of Life? Do you seek to be refreshed with the Living Water? Today prayerfully ask God to give you a hunger and a thirst for His Word that is pure, refreshing and life giving and only offered to those who are the chosen, called, and elected living stones.

November 9, 2013

Jesus is the True Manna

How often do I fail to realize that Jesus is the Always Abundant Bread of Life? As I was reading John 6 I once again saw how he, the Apostle John, continues to provide opportunities for my eyes to be opened and for me to see the Living Water and the Healer of all diseases! Thus in John’s loving way as the beloved disciple asks me to join him on a mountainside to witness the Bread of Life reveal himself as the true manna from heaven, the Jehovah Jireh. Come with me on a mountainside picnic and then decide: is today’s manna enough or have you and I chosen to feed upon him: The Bread of Life?

5000 come to hear the Master speak. There is a problem and the disciples have a solution. The problem as seen through Matthew, Mark and Luke’s perspective—send the crowds home. “This is an isolated place and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” And now John’s perspective. Jesus asks Philip for a solution as he was testing him. Philip comes up sorrowfully wanting. “We don’t have enough money to purchase the food; you can’t expect us to use all of our resources which are not nearly enough even for us, do you?” But, then there is Andrew, the one who is always seeking people. [Of all the apostles this one is dearest to my heart, always finding others to bring to Jesus…would that I be more like him!] Andrew finds a little boy and brings him to Jesus. Does he expect Jesus to multiply? If he does, Jesus will not fail. He will be the provider of the “manna.” How often am I like the disciples and especially Philip? I only see the problem but not the God solution before me even though I have seen and seen and seen His provision in other circumstances. I find that more often than I would like to admit. I say to myself, oh but this one is different, it is not just one person but 5000! My neighborhood is full of homes with adults and children and my house is small. How can I feed them all? How can I minister to “them”? Sometimes I am like the queen that said “let them eat cake.” That is when Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider steps into action that I may learn; “I AM” is in my presence and He desires to provide and will provide that I may know God has the answer to my problems and that I can reach out beyond knowing that God will provide and He will be glorified.

From here on John reveals even more about Jesus.

Vs 25-40 I am the Bread of Life,
I will provide that you may not hunger or thirst,
I have come from heaven do God’s will,
I will raise up those who believe,
I will give them eternal life.

But, it is then that Jesus also challenges me . If you feed upon me you will never hunger for my manna is not like the manna that was gathered once a day but I will continue to feed you over and over and over and over. My manna never will grow stale or my water will never dry up.

*****If you fail to feed on me you will die in your sins.***

What am I feeding upon– Do I only see with my physical eyes only or do I see with my spiritual eyes the Jehovah Jireh that will provide an ongoing supply for my needs? Will I trust Him to do that?

PS Philip “got it” and probably never forgot this remarkable scene. For you readers take a trip down memory lane and read Acts 8 and see how Philip changed from selfishness to gratitude; to not trusting to totally trusting in the Jehovah Jireh.