PENTECOST • 38

Do We Trust God for Bread?

This week’s readings challenges us to examine our beliefs and our lives.

TO ACCOMPANY YOUR LECTIONARY READINGS, LISTEN TO THIS SONGS WHILE YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

reading for: 28 July

John 6:24-35

Believing in Jesus who gives life

  • READ

Today’s reading ends on the first of seven “I am” sayings of Jesus that are recorded in the gospel of John. These sayings are exclusive to the gospel of John and holds the clue to Jesus’ identity. The first clue that Jesus provides is “I am the bread of life (6:35).” What did Jesus mean by that?

Right before this, Jesus had broken bread and fed a hungry crowd of five thousand (6:11-13). As a result, the crowd wanted to make him king and Jesus withdrew to the mountains in a bid to stop the crowd from doing so (6:15). Hence, the crowd began searching for Jesus and they found him in Capernaum (6:24-25).

However, Jesus isn't pleased because they were seeking him for the wrong reasons (6:26). The crowd sought after Jesus to satisfy their physical hunger when they should have sought after him because they wanted to know who he was (6:27-29). It is ironic that the crowds were staring at God and asking for a sign of God like the days of Moses (6:30-31).

It is at this point in the conversation that Jesus declares that the bread or manna that Moses provided from heaven was not the true bread (6:32). The true bread from heaven is the bread that gives life (6:33). And Jesus is the true bread of life that they are looking for and if they seek after him, they will never hunger or thrist again (6:34-35).

Therefore, by referring to himself as “I am the bread of life”, Jesus is saying that he is God and that he is the one that will satisfy the longings of their hearts. The only question that remains for the crowd is whether do they believe that Jesus is who he says he is and that he alone is able to satisfy their needs.

  • REFLECT

From the days of Jesus till today, bread remains a staple food that humans consume in order to live. Bread is basic to life, without which we will die. In the same way, Jesus the bread of life is essential to our spiritual life, without which we will certainly perish.

Do you and I hunger and thrist for Christ the same way we hunger and thrist for food and drink? How is your spiritual appetite? What can we do to ensure that we don't fill our stomachs at the expense of numbing our soul?

reading for: 29 July

Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15

Knowing the LORD our God

  • READ

    The story of Exodus 16 takes place right after the Exodus with a sharp turn. The LORD had just delivered the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt and they are grumbling against Him instead of giving thanks (16:2). They have just gotten out of Egypt and they are already missing their old life in Egypt (16:3). The Israelites preferred to be slaves with a full stomach than be free with an empty stomach.

    Nonetheless, the LORD has heard the Israelites’ grumbling and will accomodate their request (16:9). The LORD promises to provide the Israelites with sufficient bread from heaven and that through it, they will see the glory of God and know that he is the LORD who have brought them out of Egypt (16:4-12). True to his Word, the LORD provided for the Israelites in the morning and in the evening (16:13-15).

    However, least we miss the point, God’s main concern was never just about satisfying the Israelites’ stomach. His desire was always for the Israelites to walk in His ways, to see His glory and to know that He is the LORD their God who have brought them out of Egypt. That is God’s heart. The bread from heaven was merely a way to accomplish that purpose. Unfortunately, we know how the story unfolds. This grumbling episode is the first but certainly not the last. It turns out that Israel’s heart was as hard as Pharoah’s heart.

  • REFLECT

    When the Israelites were hungry and without food in the wilderness, they grumbled against Moses and Aaron. However, as Moses pointed out, their grumbling were ultimately not against him and Aaron but against the LORD. In the same way, all of our grumbling at the end of the day is not against anyone or any situation but against God himself.

    While there is no lack of food in Singapore and most of us will never have to worry about our stomach, we will inevitably grow discontented and wish for a life that we feel God is not willing to give or that he has robbed us of when our needs are not met. When our hearts are hardened and we forget what God has done for us, we will naturally find it hard to trust God.

    What are some of the things you’ve been grumbling about lately? What is the cause of your frustration? Is it really because of a person or a situation? Or is it because of the condition of your heart? Could it be that you cannot see any good in the wilderness because you’re struggling to trust that God is good? Remember who God is and what he has done in your life. He has done it before and he will do it again. Do not lose heart. God will provide and when he does, we will know that he is the LORD and we will confess that he is our God.

reading for: 30 July

Ephesians 4:1-16

Growing into the fullness Christ

  • READ

    Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is made up of roughly two parts. The first from chapters 1-3 and the second from chapters 4-6. In the first part, Paul is talking about beliefs and in the second, he is addressing behavior. Another way of seeing the two parts is that Paul is expounding gospel truths to the Ephesians in the first and exhorting the Ephesians to live according to the gospel truths in the second.

    Hence, Ephesians 4:1 is a transition point between the first and second segment. After establishing the truths of the gospel, Paul is now spelling out the implications of these truths that he has been teaching the Ephesians. The first implication is that the Ephesians must now walk in a manner that is worthy God's calling and to strive for unity (1-3). Second, there is only one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father (4-6). We are all one in Christ.

    Third, each of us has been given a gift for building up of the body of Christ so that the body of Christ can mature into the fullness of Christ and not be easily swayed by the world (7-14). Finally, all of us have a part to play and only when we each play our parts well can the body of Christ grow in love into Christ (15-16).

  • REFLECT

    For those of us who have chosen to follow Christ, we are called to live in a manner that is worthy of the call of God. What is a life that is worthy of God? How do our lives measure up to the gospel truths? Do our lives tell of who God is? These are questions that we must constantly ask and reflect on. Share your thoughts with your LG.

    Nonetheless, one thing we know for sure is that God has given us all that we need to live a life that is worthy and part of a worthy life is to use our gifts to build up the church. It is to seek unity and to grow together in love as the Body of Christ.

    What are some of the gifts that God has given to you? How are you using these gifts to build up the Body of Christ? How can we each play our parts in church so that we can mature and grow into the fullness of Christ together as a church? Discuss these questions with your LG.

reading for: 31 July

Psalm 78:23-29

Remembering the God who provides

  • READ

    Psalms 78 is a historical psalm, written by Asaph. In it, Asaph recounts the history of Israel from the time of their slavery in Egypt to the time of king David’s reign. The purpose of this Psalm is clear. Asaph is retelling these selected events from Israel’s past so that the future generations will not forget about God and repeat the same mistakes as their ancestors.

    By writing this psalm, Asaph hopes to prevent future generations from becoming the unbelieving and rebellious generation that he is describing. He wants them to remember the lessons and take them to heart so that they will never go astray. In particular, our reading today is taken from Psalm 78:23-29, which covers the wilderness generation.

    In these verses, we read about how God opened the doors of heaven to rain down manna for the Israelites to eat (23-24). We read about how He gave the Israelites an abundance of food, far beyond what they had asked for and their stomach were completely filled (25-29). Alas, it was not enough and the Israelites continued to sin, incurring God’s wrath (30-33).

  • REFLECT

    The application for us today is straight forward. Remember God. Remember who he is and what He has done both in history and in our own lives. We are truly forgetful beings. When our stomach is full, it is easy to forget about God. And should we ever forget God, we need only look to the cross to remember what Christ has done. Listen to “Scars” by I Am They. May His scars always tell of who he is and help us to know His heart. Amen.

    “Waking up to a new sunrise
    Looking back from the other side
    I can see now with open eyes

    Darkest water and deepest pain
    I wouldn't trade it for anything
    'Cause my brokenness brought me to you
    And these wounds are a story you'll use

    So I'm thankful for the scars
    'Cause without them I wouldn't know your heart
    And I know they'll always tell of who you are
    So forever I am thankful for the scars

    Now I'm standing in confidence
    With the strength of your faithfulness
    And I'm not who I was before
    No, I don't have to fear anymore

    So I'm thankful for the scars
    'Cause without them I wouldn't know your heart
    And I know they'll always tell of who you are
    So forever I am thankful for the scars”

Season of PentecostCNL