My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/29/12):
“What sign then are You going to do so we may see and believe You?” they asked. “What are You going to perform?...”
“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.”
(John 6:30, 35 HCSB)
While just past the end of the “focus passage” for today’s ODB, these verses remind me that regardless of century or culture, people are fickle. While it is not a commonly used word anymore, it certainly is an appropriate description of the common attitude of “what have you done for me lately?” God knew that mankind was looking for this great, majestic, miraculous appearing of the Savior. In His divine wisdom, there was little majestic or great about His appearing. While certainly miraculous, the nature of His appearing was heralded to the common folk and the miracles performed in His ministry were to the humble. Always looking for Him to “magically” provide is not faith.
In one of the foundational reminders I continually get reminded of, the writer of Hebrews, after the list a faithful followers in Hebrew history, he encourages us to run well before such an audience and to be “fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Heb 12:2a NIV). I like the use of the word word “fixing” because of the double meaning of “affixing” permanently with dogged focus as well as “repair” of something broken as if glued. (Since I moved south I found another meaning, but folks that are “fixin’ to” ain’t doin’ nuttin’ -- and there is no “to” in that verse. J) The New International Version from 1984 that I used a lot growing up started Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus….” I like the reminder with the rephrased wording in the newer NIV that it is a continual process of fixing as the connection gets damaged and even broken through “normal wear and tear” without vigilant maintenance.
That being said, when my spirit is feeling hungry or parched, Christ’s promise still active, but I must quit “fixin’ to” and get active to come and believe.
- Andy Jentes
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