Today’s Reading: John 6:52-59
Hearing God’s Voice for Today:
“The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.’”
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Is this teaching difficult for you to understand? Here, Jesus is teaching deep, internal, and eternal truths using a human illustration. So don’t take this literally.
What was he teaching? To “eat my flesh” and “drink my blood” means to ingest him totally in your life. It means trusting him completely— especially when it comes to his death on the cross and the forgiveness of your sins. You need to ingest and digest the reality of his grace, mercy, and kindness living in you every day. You need to chew on it like a cow does its cud, letting his grace and mercy nourish you throughout the day.
This truth is also expressed at the communion table the Lord gave to you. Whenever you receive the bread and wine, representing Jesus’ flesh and blood, you are reminded of and experience anew his spiritual presence in your life. You remember the meaning and significance of the cross. You know the Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and filled with unfailing grace. Your faith in him is renewed. Your life in him is mysteriously recharged.
You know you have eternal life. You know you will be raised up on the last day. There should be no doubt in your mind. It’s an absolute certainty. Death has lost its sting. The grave has been conquered.
This is pure, profound, and prolific unconditional love. It’s not that you first loved him, but that he first loved you. Before the foundations of the earth were ever formed, he first loved you. His love for you began before this world was ever made.
Jesus gave up his life as an atoning sacrifice for your sins. He took upon himself the punishment you deserved so he could give you the gift of eternal life. He went through the agony of his suffering so his grace could consume your heart.
Eat of his flesh. Drink of his blood. Be totally consumed with his grace. It’s inexhaustible.
Jesus is eager to relent and not punish. He loves to repay two blessings for each of your troubles. He loves you so very much!
This love is patient and kind. It doesn’t envy or boast. It isn’t arrogant or rude. It doesn’t need to be right. It isn’t irritable or resentful. It doesn’t rejoice with evil, but celebrates the truth. This love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. It never fails.
Nor will this love fail you today. It will be profusely powerful in your heart no matter what you may face. This love that sustains you today will one day carry you into Jesus’ presence.
Feed on this truth.
And you will be filled with the joy of his presence.
[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]