Posted in Philip Yancey, Prayer, Quotes, tagged John 06 on August 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Prayer includes moments of ecstasy and also dullness, mindless distraction and acute concentration, flashes of joy and bouts of irritation. In other words, prayer has features in common with all relationships that matter. — Philip Yancey, Prayer, pg.19
We may not be satisfied with our prayer time, but it’s the best thing we have so we keep at it.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” – John 6:68 (NIV)
— fritz@langgang.com
Posted in God's Kingdom, Heaven, Hell, Judgment, Parables, tagged John 06, Matthew 13 on August 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. — Matthew 13:47-50
Heaven’s kingdom has quite a draw. So many want and expect to go there — just not yet, and not the way the Bible instructs.
Some are like Mr. Formalist and Mr. Hypocrisy in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. Unlike true followers, they climb over the wall instead of entering by the gate. They saw no need to do things God’s way, theirs was easier. But they received no scroll and knew nothing of God’s path so eventually fell away.
But all those who come to Christ with a true heart of repentance have nothing to fear. Jesus said,
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. – John 6:37
— fritz@langgang.com
Posted in Bread, Explanations, Jesus, Manna, Satisfaction, tagged John 06 on June 18, 2011| 2 Comments »
“Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. [I am] the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.” – Jesus (John 6:35b, 49-50)
They all knew about manna — their ancestors were hungry and God nourished them with “bread” from heaven. It was God’s miracle through Moses, so different they called it, “Manna”, which literally means, “What is it?!”
When Jesus’ audience asked him for a miracle like Moses gave, he said he was the miracle itself.
Like manna was given by God to satisfy hunger, Jesus satisfies the gnawing hunger for something more. Unlike Moses’ manna which sustained a short while, eventually going stale, and breading worms, God’s true “living” bread is always fresh, satisfies for ever, and gives unending life.
Of course, they had problems with metaphors.
Sound Bite: Jesus is not the miracle worker, he is the miracle itself.
Prayer: Jesus, don’t just give me bread, be my bread.
– fritz@langgang.com
See also: “What He Is, Not What He Does” – June 9, 2011
Patrikin - Kinship through The Father 