TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35
Read: John 6:31-40
Listen: John 6
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus’s instructions to pray for daily bread remind us of another time Jesus taught about bread. In John, we find Jesus telling an audience that he provides bread superior to the Israelites’ manna in the wilderness. This got their attention. Even more, he says he is “the bread of life” that nourishes people spiritually and satisfies the deep longings of their souls. The Bible tells us the Jews there grumbled about what they heard (John 6:41), and “many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66). Maybe their trust was in something else.
We often try to meet our deep spiritual needs in ways that won’t truly satisfy. We continually chase status, wealth, stuff, sex or adventure, hoping somehow it will provide spiritual nourishment. But it never does. The deep spiritual longing our souls crave is only satisfied in Jesus. Jesus lived, died and rose again to do what nothing else can. This is great news for everyone exhausted by the pursuit.
Jesus satisfies our deepest needs—so we can trust him with our daily needs. When we trust him with our daily needs, this reshapes our thoughts and desires. We no longer need to run after things that cannot satisfy us spiritually. We learn that Jesus is all we need.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Watch this video clip as the Ada Bible Worship Team sings “Found In You.” Use the lyrics to remind you that only Jesus truly satisfies your deepest needs. When you get to the phrase asking for our daily bread in our 40 Days of Prayer, recall the lyrics, “All we want and all we need is found in you, found in you. Jesus, every victory is found in you, found in you.”
40 DAYS OF PRAYER
Join us for 40 DAYS OF PRAYER where all of us will find a quiet space and slowly read The Lord’s Prayer. May forty days of praying like Jesus prayed, and desiring what Jesus wanted, make a big difference in our hearts and our communities.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is John 21.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
