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350. Our Daily Bread

Exodus 16:14-15, John 6:35-&-48-59
Key Verse:  Then Jesus declared:  "I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty."
John 6:35

"What is it," the Children of Israel asked, when they saw the little flakes lying on the desert sand.  Similarly, the Jews said, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?"  They were as puzzled as their ancestors about this "Bread from Heaven."

First Jesus gave water and now He is bread.  He makes the same claim about both:  His water and His bread give eternal life.  We don't need to work hard at drawing an analogy in this case.  Jesus draws it for us. "I am the living bread that came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever."  (John 6:51)  He is like the manna that miraculously came down from heaven and sustained His people for forty years in the wilderness.  This amazing food was nourishing and complete.  It wasn't a part of a healthy diet as bread is considered today.  Nothing else was needed.  It was also a gift of grace.

What a testimony it must have been to God's glory as the surrounding nations observed this miracle taking place.  Most people who crossed the wilderness were known to go alone and well supplied.  Here was a nation of people surviving, on, what?  They weren't starving, they were healthy and strong.  They weren't deprived and desperate from a lack of resources, they were able to defend themselves well!  I'm sure that more than one observer must have scratched his head wondering, "How is this possible?"

Jesus is the same for us.  He is our manna when we take our daily portion, still His gift of grace, from His hand.  In Him, we remain strong, causing those around us to wonder, "How is it possible?"  "Our God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory."  (Phil. 4:19)  Accepting what He offers is our act of trust.

At first, some of the Israelites doubted so they either didn't take, or took more than needed.  In both cases they were disobedient.  In daily portions, God provided for His people.  It is the same for us today.  We cannot store up grace for the future, but He gives enough for each day.  "Praise be to the Lord, to God our savior, who daily bears our burdens."  (Psa. 68:19)  As we ask for daily bread, so He carries our burdens daily, through grace.  Like the manna, there is just enough for each day.

This is not something that we can see and agree too.  Daily, we need to reach out and take from His hand.  Just like the water, to receive our daily supply, we need to be in contact with the one who is making the offer.  Just as with the foot washing in John 13:1-11, Jesus says here, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no part in me."  (John 6:53)  You have no part in Him if you do not take from Him daily.

Imagine giving a child one meal at birth and then expecting that child to survive.  Now, imagine having one heavenly meal at the point of your salvation and thinking that you could survive on that one meal for a lifetime.  Just as the first suggestion is impossible and ridiculous, so is the second.  Yet, Christians try to live as if they do not need daily, spiritual food.  They look back to the point of salvation and think that's enough.  Just like birth is the beginning of a life, so it is with salvation.  It is just the beginning of a life of possibilities in Christ.  How healthy you remain in Him is dependent upon how closely you remain with Him to receive the bread and water that He graciously provides as your daily supply.  He has what you need, but you need to take what is offered.  Light brown or tan, is added to His portrait.  Tan is the color of bread, His body, broken for you.

Hymn:  (Chorus)  "I Am the Bread of Life"

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