May 19, 2014: Jesus is My Example / No One Left Behind!

John 6:22-44

Amplified Bible (AMP)

22 The next day the crowd [that still remained] standing on the other side of the sea realized that there had been only one small boat there, and that Jesus had not gone into it with His disciples, but that His disciples had gone away by themselves.

23 But now some other boats from Tiberias had come in near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

24 So the people, finding that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, themselves got into the small boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

25 And when they found Him on the other side of the lake, they said to Him, Rabbi! When did You come here?

26 Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the miracles and signs but because you were fed with the loaves and were filled and satisfied.

27 Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes [in the using], but strive and work and produce rather for the [lasting] food which endures [continually] unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him.

28 They then said, What are we to do, that we may [habitually] be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?]

29 Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].

30 Therefore they said to Him, What sign (miracle, wonderwork) will You perform then, so that we may see it and believe and rely on and adhere to You? What [supernatural] work have You [to show what You can do]?

31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as the Scripture says, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.

32 Jesus then said to them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Moses did not give you the Bread from heaven [what Moses gave you was not the Bread from heaven], but it is My Father Who gives you the true heavenly Bread.

33 For the Bread of God is He Who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.

34 Then they said to Him, Lord, give us this bread always (all the time)!

35 Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time).

36 But [as] I told you, although you have seen Me, still you do not believe and trust and have faith.

37 All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].

38 For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will and purpose but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me.

39 And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I should not lose any of all that He has given Me, but that I should give new life and raise [them all] up at the last day.

40 For this is My Father’s will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

41 Now the Jews murmured and found fault with and grumbled about Jesus because He said, I am [Myself] the Bread that came down from heaven.

42 They kept asking, Is not this Jesus, the Son of Joseph, Whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, I have come down from heaven?

43 So Jesus answered them, Stop grumbling and saying things against Me to one another.

44 No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

John 6:37-40

The Message (MSG)

35-38 Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don’t really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.

39-40 “This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time.”

If I truly want to be like Jesus, I will follow His example. I will make His life's work my life's work. His purpose on earth becomes MY purpose on earth. 

1. I have the Bread of Life living inside of me! I AM the Bread of Life to those I meet each day. I am responsible to make sure EVERYONE I encounter has the opportunity to receive this Bread! So that they will NEVER hunger again!
2. Some won't believe. Maybe the timings not right in their life to receive this free Bread. I simply keep reaching and loving.
3. I must receive EVERYONE who comes my way. I cannot reject ANYONE. No matter how hopeless or repulsive they may seem. That one I have no hope for may very well be the next world wide evangelist who will bring millions to Christ!
4. I'm not placed on this earth to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me! I must destroy my own selfish desires over and over, as many times as it takes, to allign my will with the will of the One who sent me!
This doesn't mean my life will be sad, pathetic and lonely. Not at all. (The devil will try to make you believe the lie that if you follow Christ your life will be one long, depressing sacrifice. This couldn't be further from the truth. The reality is if you DON'T follow Christ, your life will be one long, depressing attempt at trying to make yourself happy.) 
So anyway, here's proof that if I offer my life as a living sacrifice, God blesses me in amazing ways... Just last week, thanks to a dear friend, I stayed 3 nights in a world famous resort and day spa. For an unbelievably low price. I hung out at the day spa, partaking of all the different pools, hot tubs, and quiet rooms (no talking allowed). Plus, on the 3rd day, I was presented with a surprise gift of a fifty minute massage! In a breathtakingly lovely room with trickling water sounds. (I felt like I was in a movie.) God planned everything out, including the smallest details that He knew I would love. And He used friends to bless me! 
5. What is His will??? That no one He has placed in my path will be left behind!!! Now THAT'S a heavy responsibility! But it's right here in Scripture! I MUST reach EVERYONE that comes my way. Some days I will feel like a failure. But I must keep on reaching and keep on loving. Just like Jesus did!

"Dear Jesus, as I study Your example, it becomes clear to me again that I have a LONG way to go to be like You. But I know without a doubt that You have placed me on earth to make sure NO ONE is left behind. I must fulfill Your will for me until my dying day. When I am weak, You are my strength. I can do ALL things through You. Your mercies are new every morning! Thank You for reminding me of my purpose on earth! I worship You and adore You, Jesus. AMEN."