The Bread of Life

The scriptures seem to deliberately give us pictures that are timeless, and have relevance to all ages. Bread represents to many life and sustenance. This certainly was the case for Israelites in Exodus chapter 16. God gave them ‘manna’ a type of bread and it sustained them for 40 years as they journeyed in the desert. The thing that I love about this supernatural provision that God gave them was that it could not be stored up. It was ‘daily bread’ and would only meet their needs for that day. This meant that each day the provision that they would need had to be gathered. What a great picture for us, to begin our mornings gathering what we will need for each day through reading our Word and some time in prayer. Yes, even before you check Facebook or your emails on your smart phone!

If we become well fed gatherers of the bread of life we should be producing grain to spare and invest. This principle of reaping from that which is sown and invested into our lives is certainly something that Jesus practiced and taught. When we arrive in heaven if we have sown sparingly I don’t think we can say: “can I do that again?” Now is our time to be ‘broken bread’ and ‘poured out wine for the needs of others.’

John 12: 23 Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory.

24 The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it will be alone–a single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels–a plentiful harvest of new lives.

25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

26 All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honour them.