Today’s Reading: John 6:41-51
Hearing God’s Voice for Today:
“Jesus answered them, ‘Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.’”
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The Jews grumbled because Jesus had said he was the bread that came down from heaven. They even hinted at the rumors of his purported illegitimate birth. It’s a classic strategy of debate. If you don’t like the argument, attack the person making the argument.
Be careful about grumbling. It caused the Israelites to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. It’s unbelief. It shows you don’t trust the Lord. It’s sin. If you complain, you remain in the wilderness. Do not grumble among yourselves—ever! Rather, believe. Trust Jesus in every facet of your life. The opposite of grumbling is trust.
And remember this truth: Anyone who believes in the Son does so solely because the Father in heaven draws him. That was why he sent Jesus.
There is nothing meritorious within you to earn Jesus’ favor. You were dead in your sins and trespasses. That means only a divine power outside of you can give you life. Before you chose Jesus, the Spirit was working on your heart to make you alive in him.
Why is this important? It means God alone receives the praise and glory. It makes him alone the one worthy of all honor, dominion, and power. He alone is the author and finisher of your faith. He alone demands all our life, soul, mind, and energy. In light of all that, he alone is worthy of your worship.
How does the Father’s perfect sovereignty and your will work together for your eternal salvation? Some people see these two truths as contradictory. But they are not. They are like two train tracks that run parallel with one another until they ostensibly come together on the distant horizon. They seem disparate here. But they do come together in the future. We may not understand this now, but we will in eternity.
Heavenly mysteries belong to God alone. Don’t let your puny, finite mind dwell on things too difficult and majestic for you to understand.
One day you will comprehend doctrinal difficulties. Questions that puzzled you will be answered. Now you look through a mirror dimly. Later, you will see the Lord face-to-face. And he will explain all to you.
That’s why the most-often-spoken word in heaven will be “Oh!” As Jesus explains to you all that you didn’t understand, your eternal eyes will widen with amazement as you grasp why he was doing what he did in your life. “Oh! Oh! Oh!” you will continually exclaim.
There is eternal purpose in everything. God has reasons for all that he allows to happen in your life. In eternity, it will all make sense to you.
Until then, continue to trust him. He drew you to the Father. He will raise you up on the last day.
[from “Hearing the Voice of God” by Pastor David Chadwick, Moments of Hope Church, Charlotte, NC]