September 27, 2022 — Bread That Feeds the World

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life,…. Christ is so called, because he gives life to dead sinners: men in a state of nature are dead in trespasses and sins; and whatever they feed upon tends to death; Christ, the true bread, only gives life, which is conveyed by the word, and made effectual by the Spirit: and because he supports and maintains the life he gives; it is not in the power of a believer to support the spiritual life he has; nor can he live on anything short of Christ; and there is enough in Christ for him to live upon…” (Gills Exposition of the Entire Bible)

Jesus is not only the “bread that comes down from heaven”, he is the bread that feeds us every day. Jesus is trying to get the people to change from thinking of bread as “bread”, and instead to thinking of his body (in terms of his ministry) as the bread that everyone needs to live. Bread will feed you today — his bread, his teachings and examples of ministry will bring you eternal life. But how do you get people who are chronically hungry to think of bread in this way?

You see, those who are hungry now, want bread to fill their stomachs now. So, in giving the people bread now, will they be able to see how his teachings, his love, his mercy and his grace will lead to a life that not only feeds the body but also feeds the spirit as well? They will make the connection if they continue to follow – for they will soon see that his life will become the food they need for eternal life. If they can listen and learn — perhaps we can listen and learn – and then others will also learn from watching us following, listening, and serving all people in the name of Jesus that there is spiritual nourishment in our ministries.

We look to Jesus to feed us words that help us make sense of this world right now. But if we stay on the journey with Jesus, if we continue to listen to his teachings, and to study his words, we will receive the words that lead to eternal life — and live a life of love and service along the way.

Let us pray,

Lord Christ, give me the bread that I need today – to feed my stomach but also to feed my life into eternal life. Amen.

Pastor Dave

September 26, 2022 — Peace

“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.” Psalm 85:8-13 (NRSV)

“Peace is not something you wish for. It is something you make, something you are, something you do, and something you give away.” Robert Fulghum

When we share the peace in our churches, it is a form of the “Kiss of Peace” – a biblical greeting. In my mind, it mimics the statement in the Psalm that says “righteousness and peace will kiss each other”. It is a moment in our day, and in our week where we put aside the hurt feelings, the pain, the sorrow and the grief and we share a moment of peace. The ironic part of sharing the peace is how chaotic it can be in some churches. Many people have come to loathe sharing the peace because it becomes a moment of spontaneous, boisterous, laughter and conversation. But to me it represents life – not death.

When we refuse to share peace, I believe we isolate ourselves to our own detriment. Human touch, however, serves a neurobiological function, helping us all to forge connections. Of course, this is what helps us to form relationships with all kinds of people. Remember, Jesus used touch in his ministry on many occasions. It is when we have these kinds of connections that we cannot help but feel empathy and love for the others in our lives.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, help me be a “bringer of peace” to everyone I meet today. Amen.

Pastor Dave