Drawing Close to Jesus

N.T. #721 "Drawing Close to Jesus"

Jan. 26, 2026 

John 6-Part 7 

LET IT GLOW 

We pick up verse 60 where Jesus says, "This is a hard saying: who can hear it?"

Jesus' followers were offended by the thought of eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood (had saying). He didn't mean it literally, but figuratively. We must accept the sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ for salvation and the basis for eternal life. (Falwell)

His was a substitutionary sacrifice-for you and me. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, then He is our life. The Jews did not accept Jesus having come down from heaven, as God's Son, the Messiah.

By this time in Jesus' ministry, His disciples numbered in the tens of thousands, with varying degrees of devotion. Hundreds were serious enough to consider Him their rabbi and would actively have supported a movement to make Jesus king. Yet, it was a fickle devotion that sprouts quickly and withers suddenly in the heat. Jesus' teaching wasn't difficult to understand, just difficult to accept. Paul frequently used the corresponding noun (skandalon) to describe Jesus as an intellectual and moral trap for any who oppose God and think themselves righteous. (Swindoll)

LET IT GROW 

It is the Holy Spirit that quickeneth (to vitalize; make alive; give life), that gives life. Jesus' Words are not dead, but they carry the potential of producing life. Accept what He said and they would have life. (verse 63) 

Also, the Holy Spirit convicts of our sins. It is mankind's inclination to hide from God, rather than to come to Him, like Adam and Eve did. (Genesis 3:8; Ps. 14:1-3) When Jesus saw that the Father was drawing a person to Himself, He immediately began relating to them. such was the case with Zacchaeus. 

Because His truths were difficult for the people to grasp, many of His listeners departed. Jesus did not become discouraged. Since Jesus saw the Father working in the lives of the disciples, that is where He invested His time. 

As you read the Scriptures and pray, trust that God will honor your response to His leading by teaching you more about Himself.

[Resource: Experiencing God Day -By-Day Devotional by Henry and Richard Blackaby]

LET IT GO

Draw me close to You, never let me go.

I lay it all down again, to hear You say that I'm your friend.

Help me find a way, lead me back to You, Jesus.

You're all I want. You're all I've ever needed. You're all I want. 

 Help me know You are near.

*Praying ya'll stay safe in the cold and snow. As I write this, we have a couple of inches of snow and expecting more later this afternoon and night, maybe tomorrow, also.

Do You Want Life?

N.T.#720  "Do You Want Life?"

Jan. 23, 2026 

John 6-Part 6 

LET IT GLOW

Are you spiritually hungry? Come to Jesus. If we believe in Him, we will never be spiritually hungry or malnourished, for Jesus is the "Bread of Life." Every time we face a spiritual need, it is a simple matter of going to Christ and allowing Him to provide us with what we need. Are we trying to satisfy our spiritual hunger with human resources? It only leaves an emptiness. Come to Jesus in faith as He invites. (John 10:10) Just as Israel had to go out each day to receive God's daily provision in the wilderness, so must we come to Jesus daily for our spiritual nourishment. (Experiencing God Day-to-Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby)

In verses 52-59, Jesus was using a metaphor to emphasize that believing in Him is essential. Just as you will die without physical food, so also you can't have spiritual life apart from Jesus. (Tony Evans)

 As you read this chapter, did you notice two words used many times by Jesus? Live is used 4 times and life is used 11 times. So, how much do you and I desire to live the abundant life with Christ? Will we surrender all at the cross? 

LET IT GROW

Lord, we devote ourselves to living as You require, depending on Your teaching for guidance and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power. All spiritual renewal begins and ends with God. He reveals truth to us, lives within us, and then enables us to respond to that truth. There is no middle ground with Jesus. Either we accept or reject Him. (Life Application Study Bible)

Either we follow Jesus and His teachings through faith and obedience or we turn away in rebellion. Which is your way? Be honest, my friend.

LET IT GO

Move the unmovable, break the unbreakable, God we believe for it. Do the impossible. We need You today to have Your will and way in our life and that of our loved ones.

Bread of Life

 N.T.#719 "Bread of Life"

 Jan. 22, 2026 

John 6-Part 5 

LET IT GLOW

Why did Jesus come to earth? In verse 38, Jesus explains that He came to do the Father's will-provide salvation. 

What are some things Jesus taught the people?

• A person cannot fall from grace. Everlasting life guarantees security because this is the Father's will. No one will be lost.  (verse 39)
• Everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and will be raised up in the last day. (verse 40)
• The Jews knew Jesus from His childhood, yet He expects them to believe He is the Son of God sent from heaven. (verse 42)
• No one came come to Jesus except the Father draw them. (verse 44)
• Salvation is impossible apart from hearing the Word of God. (verse 45)

Has God drawn you to Jesus for salvation? Answer the call today.

LET IT GLOW

Jesus made two "I am" statements:

I am that bread of life. (verse 48)

I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven.  (verse 51)

Jesus was speaking of the sacrifice of His body (His life) on the cross for the sins of the world. Those who trust in Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for their sins will receive eternal life. 

We must receive Jesus, trust Him, believe Him, have faith in Him, partake of Him. (Tony Evans)

Jesus is our spiritual life. Is He yours?

LET IT GO

Be our sustance, Jesus, our Bread of Life, for our soul is hungry.

Come and Never Hunger or Thirst Again

 N.T.#718 "Come and Never Hunger or Thirst Again"

Jan. 21, 2026 

John 6-Part 4 

LET IT GLOW

When was the last time you were really hungry or thirsty? 

The following day, those who had been fed by Jesus began looking for Him. Jesus had not crossed the lake with His disciples, so they knew He had not gone with them. Where did He disappear to? So the people got into boats and sailed to Capernaum. Had they heard Jesus tell His disciples to go there? When they found Jesus, they asked Him when He got there. Jesus ' reply revealed their purpose for hunting them-food for breakfast? 

Here is a good proclamation by Jesus: 

Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hah God the Father sealed. (verse 27)

That food is Jesus Christ. He is our spiritual food, which gives us grace and lasts forever. Were the people fixated on only physical hunger and not on their spiritual hunger?

The people were confused. How were they to work for God? Christ offered to give them eternal life. Their work was to receive what God had done for man; believe in Jesus Christ.

LET IT GROW

How did Jesus identify Himself? Verse 25 tells us:

I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger: and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.

Friend, are you hungry for a new life? Come and believe on Jesus as your Savior, the Son of God. Then your soul will not hunger or thirst again. Jesus satisfies. Jesus will not cast out us sinners. (verse 37)

LET IT GO

Only Jesus paid the price for me. Only His love could set me free. Nobody else can open heaven's door-just Jesus and nothing more.

Have you reached out by faith and received the gift of God? Salvation is free to us, but it cost Jesus His life.

What a Savior!

Overcoming Trouble

N.T.#716 "Overcoming Trouble"

Jan. 20, 2026 

John 6-Part 3

LET IT GLOW 

We read about the fish and bread being multiplied so a multitude could eat. We saw where God gave in abundance, not just meeting the need, but there was extra food left over for Jesus and His disciples. He takes whatever we can offer Him in time, ability, or resources and multiplies its effectiveness beyond our wildest expectations. (Life Application Study Bible)

Now John turns to the guys on the Sea of Galilee. It is 650 feet below sea level and 150 feet deep, surrounded by hills. It is a common thing for windstorms to suddenly come causing high waves. The disciples were about 3 1/2 miles from shore when one of those storms came to them. 

Suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water, which made the guys terrified, for at first they didn't know it was Him. Mark 6 tells about Peter walking on the water, going to Jesus. Then he began sinking. We have heard of this event many times, as well as reading it in the Gospels. 

Now these guys had already seen Jesus do some miracles, so if they had thought about it, anything was possible with Jesus. Yet, they were afraid. They were not prepared for Jesus' help, nor expecting to see Him out there on the rough sea.

Faith is a mind-set that expects God to act. When we act on this expectation, we can overcome our fears.

LET IT GROW 

Jesus identified Himself to the disciples-It is I; be not afraid. (verse 20)

Since Jesus is with us, we should not be afraid, right?

The guys willingly received Jesus into their boat. Do we invite Jesus into our life, our situation, our problem? Do we surrender and let God handle it?

Something happened in verse 21, which I have never caught. 

Immediately the ship was at the land wither they went. 

According to Matthew 6, when Peter began to sink, Jesus stretched out His hand and caught Peter. He called Peter, O thou of little faith. (verse 31)

When Peter and Jesus got into the ship, the wind ceased. Jesus made it into a speed boat and they landed on land. That was a miracle in itself.

What can we learn from this?

• Keep our eyes on Jesus through our storms of life.
• Watch Jesus show His power over everything (gravity here), over the storm(stilling the winds), and over space (bringing the ship to land).
• Jesus can handle anything for us; do we have faith in Him?
• Let the peace of God rule in our heart. (Col. 3:15)
• Trust Him to help us overcome fear and trouble.

LET IT GO 

Who knows, we just might walk on water, over our storm, like Peter.

Help us not take our eyes off You, Jesus.

Let the peace of Christ rule in our heart.

How the Lord Did Multiply!

 N.T. #716 "How the Lord Did Multiply"

Jan. 19, 2026 

John 6-Part 2 

LET IT GLOW

Philip's faith was so little, but so were the 2 small fish and 5 pancakes of barley. Jesus wanted to fee the crowd there with them, so He asked Philip where they could buy bread so they could eat. (verse 5) It was a test for Philip's faith. Jesus knew what He was about to do. Did Philip respond to the Lord making it happen? No. The amount in their treasury was not sufficient to give each person just a little food. That was Philip's response to Jesus. 

What about the lad who had only 5 pancakes and 2 fish for his lunch? Would that be enough to go around? Nope. That would not have even filled up the disciples, much less 15,000-20,000 folks. Andrew offered the little bit of food, which the boy was willing to share.

With Jesus, anything is sufficient to multiply and meet needs. Jesus had the 5,000 men sit down on the grass. Perhaps their families were with the men. Jesus gave thanks for the dab of food and gave to the disciples to distribute. Those people got as much fish as they wanted. (Not a scrawny sardine.) 

LET IT GROW 

Afterwards, Jesus had the disciples gather up the fragments left over-12 baskets full. The people saw a miracle/sign Jesus performed. What did they call Jesus? A Prophet who is come into the world. Jesus perceived that they intended on making Him king by force. So He slipped away to the mountain by Himself. It wasn't time for that.

What can we learn from this event? 

Never gauge the size of a challenge in terms of our capability. What we have to offer is never enough. God never calls us to provide; that's His responsibility. Instead, He calls us to commit whatever we have-even if it's no more than a sack lunch. His call comes with a promise: You take care of the addition, I'll be in charge of the multiplication, and the mission I've invited you to join will be accomplished.  (Swindoll's Insights on John)

Jesus knew His path was to be one of suffering, not kingship as of yet. It wasn't His time for that.

Faithful obedience:

1. Acknowledge your own inadequacy and the Lord's omnipotence. Nothing is too difficult for You.
2. Be certain the challenge before you glorifies the Lord, obeys one of His commands in Scripture, or helps to fulfill a scriptural mandate. He can do supernatural things!
3. Give the challenge back to the Lord as an opportunity for Him to accomplish it on your behalf and to receive glory for the victory.
4. Do what you can, supply what you have, put forward your effort, then allow the Lord to multiply it (or not) at His discretion. (Swindoll)

Is God asking you to become a part of His plan as a means of grace, so when victory comes we can say together, "We triumphed!"

LET IT GO

Lord, we surrender our money, our time, and our abilities to You for kingdom work.

Sorry everyone for not posting yesterday, but I have been sick. 

Should be ok by Monday. Have a blessed weekend.

Linda