JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from John 6:35.

Jesus identified Himself by “I Am” statements, which are recorded for us in the Gospel of John. These statements open our eyes to the reality of who Jesus is and what He is able to accomplish on our behalf.

After Jesus miraculously turned a boy’s lunch into a feast for 5,000 people, He made this statement about Himself:

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Jesus was pointing to the spiritual reality that His grace is sufficient to satisfy our soul. Blaise Pascal once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person and it can never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled by God, made known through Jesus Christ.”

This Light Reflection inspires us to find fulfillment in knowing Jesus in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to accept Jesus as the Bread of life.

One of the ways that God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness was to send them manna from heaven. Without food, our bodies cannot survive. In the spiritual realm, our souls would not survive without the grace of the Lord Jesus.

That is why we need Him. Our souls are dependent on Him for survival. We need Him for every breath, and we need Him beyond our last breath to receive eternal life.

In John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” His grace will forever sustain and satisfy our soul.

Take the daily challenge to embrace Jesus as the Bread of Life on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on Jesus as the Bread of Life.

Just after feeding thousands of people with fish and bread, Jesus made this claim about Himself in John 6:35.

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Just as bread satisfies the hunger of our stomach, so Jesus satisfies the hunger of our soul. He fills us with His love and truth, and sustains us by His grace.

Physical cravings are satisfied for a brief period of time when we fill up on food, but the grace and truth of Jesus fills the longings of our soul for righteousness so that we enjoy lasting peace with God.

Focusing on Jesus as the Bread of Life gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Trust, today’s Focus on God examines His ability to multiply our offerings for Kingdom impact.

According to John chapter 6, at least five thousand people formed a great crowd to gather around Jesus. But there was a shortage of food, and Jesus wanted to feed them. But where would the food come from?

One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew pointed out, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” With Jesus’ touch, the answer became “far enough to satisfy every person in the crowd.”

This true story shows what can happen when we offer Jesus what little we have, (whether a tithe or our spiritual gift). He can multiply something we consider ordinary or insignificant and touch many lives with it. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

God’s ability to multiply our offerings is a reason to trust in God for today and forever.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is bread.

Bread is a type of food that sustains our strength. Having human bodies, we need food to live. And Jesus encourages us to pray for our Heavenly Father to give us our daily bread.

In the days of Moses, the Israelites received manna from heaven. It would appear every morning except the Sabbath day. God would provide for their needs in this way, but they were not supposed to take more than they needed.

Bread is a symbol of what we need-no more, no less. Perhaps that is why Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” We need all the spiritual food that Jesus has to offer for the strength to live the Christian life, abundantly and eternally. Anything less would be insufficient. Anything apart from Jesus would be baggage.

Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” His grace is the spiritual nutrition that truly satisfies our hunger and thirst for righteousness.

The bread of life is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment of Celebration reflects on Jesus as the Bread Of Life.

After feeding 5,000 people, starting with five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus taught a lesson of faith about spiritual bread.

He said in John 6:35: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Jesus was inviting us to come to Him for a type of nourishment that physical food could not provide. Blaise Pascal has said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus.

There are many different things that people seek to fill this vacuum. Some people seek satisfaction in money, fame, or pleasure. These are shallow substitutes for the long haul. Seeking Christ opens the way for us to live in relationship with God, and to experience His love and righteousness.  In this way, we can have a fulfilling and thriving relationship with God that lasts forever.

The Bread of Life that Jesus offers us is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In Micah 5:2, we read about the birthplace of God’s anointed leader:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins  are from of old, from ancient times.”

The name “Bethlehem” is significant because it means “House of Bread.” Jesus identified Himself as the bread of life. So, entering the world stage as a baby in the manger, Jesus came to the House of Bread, as the Bread of Life.

His birth in Bethlehem was planned long before it really happened. The location of Christ’s birthplace is sending the signal to the world that just as bread satisfies physical hunger, so Jesus is our vital source for satisfaction for spiritual hunger.

And just as Jesus came to Bethlehem, which was considered small and insignificant, so He approaches people who are humble, and raises them up for extraordinary purposes.

The promise that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com