Day 24

“For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” — John 6:55-57

Part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to lead us into truth. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. They are foolishness to him. Understanding God is not learning practical logic like one would learn algebra or geometry or even history. We do not know the things of God without the work of the Spirit of God to open our eyes and give understanding. Spiritual truth does not make sense to the human mind that is detached from God.

If we can explain our Christian lives in any terms other than the specific activity of God, Himself, then we may be religiously Christian, but we’re not enjoying the liberty and power that should be ours in union with Christ. Jesus said, “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me” (John 6:57). While He walked the earth, Jesus lived as a man in complete dependence upon His Father, so how much greater must we live in dependence upon Him? “I am the bread of life,” He said. “He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).

In our everyday lives, when we depend upon Christ, we are drawing upon the grace, presence and power of His indwelling Spirit. We learn things about Him we never would otherwise, and in areas where we wouldn’t normally feel capable, we discover the complete sufficiency of Christ. Jesus will always meet the needs of every heart in which He dwells.

The exemplary life of Christ demonstrates that it is impossible to live the Christian life purely by human means. It would be like trying to pick ourselves up by our boot laces. We cannot do it as Jesus Himself wouldn’t do it without total dependency upon His Father. Not any of His works or teachings had their origin in Himself. They were all from God and, in the same way, when we live under Christ’s authority, we trust that our activities will be energized and made fruitful by Him. That is why it is imperative we live day to day in complete dependency upon Jesus.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, may I never forget to always be dependent upon you, to draw on your strength, power and grace. And thank you, Lord, for coming to earth and showing us that all we need is you.

To reflect upon: Am I truly trusting God, knowing that I can rest in His sufficiency in every circumstance and in all I do? Have I made this a daily reality in my life or am I simply consoled by it now and then?