Our pastor last Sunday gave me food for thought. Literally.
Preaching from the I AM statements, this last week he spoke on Jesus as the Bread of Life. I must admit I haven’t spent much time considering this statement or this passage. But as Wednesday morning dawned, I realized I was without Bible study material and pulled out my program from last week. Beginning my time, I looked at my notes in my Bible and the questions Pastor Brady gave on the back of the page and away I went.
The masses
"A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick…v.5Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?"
The large crowds were of interest to me. And Jesus knew they were there and why they were there or at least many of them. Why did they follow Jesus? Why did they keep coming back for more of Him? As the Pastor Brady’s sermon continued, it was apparent that many reasons were holding them to Jesus. Selfishness, sadly, being on the list.
What had Jesus done for them lately? What miracle was he going to do next? Would it be my neighbor or the baker who would be healed? Oh, the suspense. Jesus knew because in verse 26, "[He] answered them and said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.’"
So He knew they were rejecting Him as the Messiah, they loved the Jesus who performed. Jesus was wanting so much to show them how to change and how to gain eternal life and they were just looking for the earthly tricks. Don’t work for today’s perishables..work for eternal food that endures.
The Son of Man can give eternal life. The miracles on the temporal body are spectacular BUT working/setting our minds on eternal things has no valid description…indescribible. So that got me thinking…on each of my children…
I know our responsibility is to teach our children math, english, history, grammar, etc. Very important. But if all I am doing is setting my mind on the earthly matters with each of them…how will they develop a faith that does not depend on a McDonald’s order god? I want them to see the blessings but I more than that I want them to be born again, trust in His death and nourish their souls on His broken body (all Pastor Brady) This is the link to his actual sermon: http://www.gebible.org/audio/120708.mp3
For each child, as I wrote it down, it was a different set of concerns and possibilities. One thing that kept popping up in my mind is Proverbs for Parenting by Barbara Decker. Here’s a link to Amazon for the book. http://www.amazon.com/Proverbs-Parenting-Topical-Guide-Raising/dp/0961860855 She speaks to my fears that our discipline, at times, can only be surface. ‘no’, ‘don’t do that’, no hitting, etc. etc. BUT WHY?
This book is actually sectioned off by the different heart issues…the tongue, work ethics, everything (or it seems) and Proverbs verses that address each issue. So when Joshua and I discipline our children, we can be backed up by the word of God and also have them memorize it. Guess what I realized? I also have to memorize the verses so I can speak them to the children. LOL. Good thing.
Well, I have gone on long enough. May you be blessed. Much love, Cara
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