Meditate.
Then the
people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, "I am the
bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Isn't this Jesus, the
son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, 'I came down from
heaven'?"
But Jesus
replied, "Stop complaining about what I said. For no one can come to me
unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will
raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, 'They will all be taught by
God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not
that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen
him.)
 |
| Bread of Life |
Jesus came down
from Heaven. Like the Manna that God provided every morning for the Israelites
in the desert, Jesus can provide us spiritual sustenance every morning…every
day…if we choose to read His word, to take in the Bread of Life. It is our
choice. God doesn’t force Himself on us, nor does He require us to study His
word or even have a relationship with Him. Jesus notes in this Scripture
passage above that no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws
them to me, but He also promised to His followers, His sheep:
My sheep listen to my voice; I know
them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.
No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he
is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's
hand. - John 10:27-29
No one can steal
you away from God. You are secure in God’s powerful love. Jesus doesn’t lie—He tells
the truth. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). The greatest
promise God provides is that of eternal life. Everyone will live eternally, but
whether it is with God, or without Him, it is each person’s choice. Choose to
believe in the Bread of Life—and you will have eternal life with God. I’m
certain that I have eternal with Jesus—because He is my Lord and Savior. I
rejoice in celebrating His birth.
That baby born
in the manger there in Bethlehem was Jesus Christ, the Messiah, our Savior who
gave up His life—His very body—so that we could have eternal life. Jesus is the
Spiritual Bread of Life.
Prayer ~ Thank You, Jesus, for giving up Your life as You knew it to become the Savior of the World—my Savior.
Verses of
Salvation ~ When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us,
not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He
washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy
Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our
Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence
that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:4-7
Friday’s
Feast at the King’s Table
We
can’t live on bread alone but remember that God provided a special bread, Manna,
to give physical sustenance and nourishment to the Israelites in the desert
after their Exodus from Egypt. In Jesus, God provides the Bread of Life…from
Heaven for us spiritually. Manna, again. Yes, spiritual Manna. Although Manna
may not be something you think about at Christmas—it could become a new
Christmas tradition.
MANNA
COOKIES
½
cup butter, softened
1
teaspoon vanilla
2
tablespoons guava (or honey)
¾
cup cane sugar
1½
teaspoon baking powder
2
eggs
2
cups flour
dash
salt
½
teaspoon of ground coriander
Cream
butter, adding sugar gradually, until light and pale. Add eggs and beat
thoroughly. Add guava, salt and vanilla. Combine baking powder,
flour and coriander, add to butter mixture. Drop by ½ teaspoon onto a
greased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Flatten. Bake in a 400 degree oven for
8 minutes or until done. Cool on wire racks. (If using honey…lower temp
by 25 degrees—note that heating honey makes it toxic, so you may want to think
twice before using honey.)
Enjoy
with a cup of strong espresso coffee or a glass of milk.
Adapted from https://raesbooksandrecipes.wordpress.com/2017/03/26/recipe-manna-cookies-2/
Blessings on you, your family, and your friends as you celebrate the birthday of our Savior.
©
2021 Text, photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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