S) "68 Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.'"
John 6:68 (NASB)
O) So, in the previous paragraphs, Jesus has introduced the holy communion. He's told the listeners that His body and blood blood hold eternal life and that whoever eats and drinks of Him will not die. This was a particularly tough teaching for them, because the Last Supper hadn't happened yet, so there were no parallels drawn between Jesus' sacrafice and the historical redemption and symbolic resurrection that are presented in the Passover... consequently, some of the people following Him turned away at this point. When Jesus asked the twelve disciples if they'd turn away as well, this was Peter's response.
A) In today's world, it's easy to take the Gospel for granted. The main reason I stopped serving God as I reached adulthood is because I didn't feel the same need for Him that was there in my teenage years. Being part of a church is difficult sometimes. Whether it's a sermon that's challenging your faith, or a person who's challenging your integrity, if you're growing as a Christian then there will be struggles. In all of it, though, we must be treating the Gospel the same way. Everything else can fade, but the Word of God must be treated as the only way to life, because it is! Often times I see brothers and sisters who are offended or challenged by a teaching or a decision in leadership and they decide that they're better off on their own. This is tragic, and I mean that sincerely and literally. As long as the Word of God is taught at my church, I must cling to it, regardless of how difficult a situation becomes. If I'm to move on, I need to be very certain that it is God calling me to another place, and not my pride rebelling against God's very Word.
A) In today's world, it's easy to take the Gospel for granted. The main reason I stopped serving God as I reached adulthood is because I didn't feel the same need for Him that was there in my teenage years. Being part of a church is difficult sometimes. Whether it's a sermon that's challenging your faith, or a person who's challenging your integrity, if you're growing as a Christian then there will be struggles. In all of it, though, we must be treating the Gospel the same way. Everything else can fade, but the Word of God must be treated as the only way to life, because it is! Often times I see brothers and sisters who are offended or challenged by a teaching or a decision in leadership and they decide that they're better off on their own. This is tragic, and I mean that sincerely and literally. As long as the Word of God is taught at my church, I must cling to it, regardless of how difficult a situation becomes. If I'm to move on, I need to be very certain that it is God calling me to another place, and not my pride rebelling against God's very Word.
P) Father, thank You for the Word. It is firm and unchanging. It is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). God, continue to acclimate me to hear Your truth, as it is written, so that as I live out my life I am able to better discern Your will for my life. Give me understanding and wisdom to absorb Your word apply Your teaching. Your Word is life to me, and I never want to take that for granted. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment