Starter

Daily Reading: John 6

I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger. (John 6.35)

Devotional Thought: Many years ago, a friend gave Lana a jar of sour dough bread starter.  She could have given us a loaf of sour dough bread.  That would have satisfied us for a day or two.  But the starter has satisfied our hunger over and over again.  It is still “alive” in our refrigerator, and we are still eating bread from it.  Plus, Lana has given starter from that jar to dozens of other people!

In talking with the crowds clamoring for free bread, Jesus spoke of the manna Moses gave to the Israelites in the wilderness.  That bread satisfied their need for only a short time.  Jesus, however, is greater than Moses.  His bread satisfies forever – even to the sustaining of our souls after death and in the resurrection.  Jesus doesn’t just give us a loaf of bread, but he gives us the bread of life.  It is like the starter that our friend gave us.  It continues to satisfy.

When Jesus claimed that those coming to him would no longer hunger, he wasn’t saying that they would never again have an appetite.  The lack of hunger in that sense indicates sickness, not health.  What Jesus meant is that those who come to him would not go hungry.  They would always have the bread of life to satisfy the hunger of their souls. 

Have you received the starter, the bread of life, from Jesus?  And are you continually partaking of the Word of God which is living bread to your soul?

Prayer: Oh Lord, you are Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider.  And, what you provide goes far beyond physical bread, which only satisfies for a season.  You provide us living bread that will satisfy us for eternity.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 35.22-28

22 You have seen, O Lord; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!

23 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!

24 Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!

25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart’s desire! ”Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up. ”

26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!

27 Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant! ”

28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.