I played tennis yesterday for the first time in forever and y’all, the way my neck and shoulders are hollering right now, I probably shouldn’t have tried to show off my barely existent tennis skills to my children! LOL! But it was such a great time outdoors with my kids and they really enjoyed it. They reminded me the day before that I had committed to spending more time with them outdoors. And here we were, the very next day, playing tennis on a brisk, sunny afternoon. I realized that while my kids ask me for a lot of material things, ultimately they want more of me.

This morning I flipped open my Bible to the book of John and landed in chapter 6. A few things that immediately popped out to me as I was studying was that we should be pursuing more of God, not more of His blessings. I wrote in my journal: I don’t want the blessings without you Lord.

Think about that for a moment. My kids love getting things from me, but they would rather have more of me than more stuff from Walmart, Target, or Amazon. Because if they are WITH ME, then they get the best of both my presence and my blessings. That’s how our heavenly Father is. Dr. Tony Evans said in the study notes for John 6:26 that God isn’t opposed to blessing people. He is opposed, however, to people who simply want to use him for his blessings — people who only want him for the stuff he can provide. He is looking for those who don’t want his blessings without him.

That’s just like being in a relationship right? No one wants to be in a relationship where they are being used. I know I wouldn’t want to be in a relationship like that. We want people to want us for WHO WE ARE, not what we can give them. Love me for who I am, and you won’t lack for anything good (as my husband). I had to make sure I said that part. I don’t need any unsolicited DMs. LOL.

Reading John taught me a lot about WHO JESUS IS and WHY HE CAME. Jesus is the true bread from heaven, according to John 6:32-33 which says: “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

To feed off of Jesus’s bread of life, we must receive him, trust him, believe in him, have faith in him, and partake of him. Verse 27 says we don’t need to be working for food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on Him.

What kind of bread of are you working for?

Perishable bread? Dough? Money?

Or that eternal life bread?

The only thing that God demands of those wanting to receive the free gift of eternal life is belief in His Son Jesus Christ. We must believe in Jesus to live forever.

John 6:48 records the first of Jesus’s seven I AM statements, and it made me search out all of them:

1. I AM the bread of life. (John 6:48)

2. I AM the light of the world. (John 8:12)

3. I AM the gate for the sheep. (John 10:7)

4. I AM the Good Shepherd. (John 10:11)

5. I AM the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)

6. I AM the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

7. I AM the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (John 15:1)

After studying this and documenting it all in my journal, I said, “Lord, give me a word.” His reply: I AM the Word.

He is the great I AM!

SALVATION PRAYER

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’re not a believer, but you have a desire to be, all you have to do is openly confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When you pray that prayer, you are saved. Get connected with a good, bible-based church in your community, stay connected to other believers, and start having daily conversations through prayer with God every single day. Welcome to your new life with Jesus Christ!!!

ASSIGNMENTS

1. What did Holy Spirit say to you in your conversation with Him this morning?

2. What kind of bread are you working for everyday?

3. Record yourself reading the word of God on video or audio and watch how God will use your own voice to give you revelation and build your faith (keeping this assignment on here for a while).

4. Leave me a message on the Anchor.Fm podcast app or Text Me at 601-299-4398! Share this blog post/podcast with someone who needs encouraging. Share buttons below.

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