"When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here? Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life."-John 6:25-27
It is a terrible feeling the moment you untie the metal wiring around your bread bag to find that the sandwich you were about to make would be impossible due to moldy bread. Everything in our lives spoils....seriously, everything. Time will spoil, relationships will spoil, food spoils, even our very bodies will spoil, but there is one thing that endures forever: Jesus. I've been really reflecting this past week on the season of Lent and how many of my friends and family participate in Lent. Full disclosure, I'm not Catholic. I think that the season of Lent is a wonderful thing. Anything that focuses you on Jesus is absolutely wonderful! Many people will give up things that are easy and some things that are difficult, all in an effort to strengthen their relationship with Christ.
Once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are no longer something that will spoil. You have received the indescribable gift from our Heavenly Father. Nothing going forward will give you more or less favor with God because the gift of eternal life through Jesus is given to us and not earned.
During this season of Lent, I really want to challenge you to look into yourself and determine your ultimate purpose for participating in Lent. The ultimate purpose of Lent and frankly all of our lives is exactly what my last post talked about: Loving the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul. Our world will throw so many things in between us and Jesus. It can be anything from reminders of sin to pushing time away from Jesus because you're a mother of 4 kids.
I chose this verse today because it shows me the very thing that we should be doing in this season of Lent....and beyond. Have you ever noticed that Jesus often times was alone? Jesus very often in the Bible goes away from the crowds and is fully in connection and worship of His Father. To me this is a great example from the King of teaching by example: We must go find a quiet place in which no one knows. Jesus did not tell the people that were searching for Him where he was, they pursued Him and found him. Jesus didn't make a social media post saying he was over in this mountain area and that he was giving up twitter for the next 40 days. Jesus went to be alone with God.
Next, you read that Jesus sees that those pursuing Him are looking for Him with the wrong intentions. I know this one well, and so do you. Many times my mouth has said this words: God if you could just help me out with this problem, I promise I'll never do such and such again." God knows our true intentions. Time and time again, I've seen many Christians go down the rabbit hole of "good intentions" that are misaligned with the Word of God. I've recently been unfortunately seeing a pattern in many churches that are giving out advice much like a Zig Ziglar convention. I have seen many Christians fall into the trap of self help books that give them steps to a better life. I've seen many Christians fall into the trap of putting their first love and all their love into their spouse, job, and goals. I beg you, don't fall into this trap. All of these things do not endure and will be moldy bread. When you focus on Christ first and foremost, everything in your life becomes enduring. Your marriage, your work, and your goals. Focus on the vine of Jesus in order for your branches to produce the eternal fruit.
When the bread molds, you can still use some of the pieces that haven't been affected yet. This is symbolically how I view Lent. The things in my life that can mold and the things in my life that have mold on them....get rid of them. For me, I don't need a set 40 days to do this. I try to do this every day. What's molding in your life? What are the things you are focusing on that will ultimately become moldy bread?
Have a great week!
Cameron
It is a terrible feeling the moment you untie the metal wiring around your bread bag to find that the sandwich you were about to make would be impossible due to moldy bread. Everything in our lives spoils....seriously, everything. Time will spoil, relationships will spoil, food spoils, even our very bodies will spoil, but there is one thing that endures forever: Jesus. I've been really reflecting this past week on the season of Lent and how many of my friends and family participate in Lent. Full disclosure, I'm not Catholic. I think that the season of Lent is a wonderful thing. Anything that focuses you on Jesus is absolutely wonderful! Many people will give up things that are easy and some things that are difficult, all in an effort to strengthen their relationship with Christ.
Once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are no longer something that will spoil. You have received the indescribable gift from our Heavenly Father. Nothing going forward will give you more or less favor with God because the gift of eternal life through Jesus is given to us and not earned.
During this season of Lent, I really want to challenge you to look into yourself and determine your ultimate purpose for participating in Lent. The ultimate purpose of Lent and frankly all of our lives is exactly what my last post talked about: Loving the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul. Our world will throw so many things in between us and Jesus. It can be anything from reminders of sin to pushing time away from Jesus because you're a mother of 4 kids.
I chose this verse today because it shows me the very thing that we should be doing in this season of Lent....and beyond. Have you ever noticed that Jesus often times was alone? Jesus very often in the Bible goes away from the crowds and is fully in connection and worship of His Father. To me this is a great example from the King of teaching by example: We must go find a quiet place in which no one knows. Jesus did not tell the people that were searching for Him where he was, they pursued Him and found him. Jesus didn't make a social media post saying he was over in this mountain area and that he was giving up twitter for the next 40 days. Jesus went to be alone with God.
Next, you read that Jesus sees that those pursuing Him are looking for Him with the wrong intentions. I know this one well, and so do you. Many times my mouth has said this words: God if you could just help me out with this problem, I promise I'll never do such and such again." God knows our true intentions. Time and time again, I've seen many Christians go down the rabbit hole of "good intentions" that are misaligned with the Word of God. I've recently been unfortunately seeing a pattern in many churches that are giving out advice much like a Zig Ziglar convention. I have seen many Christians fall into the trap of self help books that give them steps to a better life. I've seen many Christians fall into the trap of putting their first love and all their love into their spouse, job, and goals. I beg you, don't fall into this trap. All of these things do not endure and will be moldy bread. When you focus on Christ first and foremost, everything in your life becomes enduring. Your marriage, your work, and your goals. Focus on the vine of Jesus in order for your branches to produce the eternal fruit.
When the bread molds, you can still use some of the pieces that haven't been affected yet. This is symbolically how I view Lent. The things in my life that can mold and the things in my life that have mold on them....get rid of them. For me, I don't need a set 40 days to do this. I try to do this every day. What's molding in your life? What are the things you are focusing on that will ultimately become moldy bread?
Have a great week!
Cameron
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