OH, FOR GRACE

Reclining At His Table

Oh for grace to feed on Jesus,
and so to eat of the fruit of the land! (Spurgeon)

And, such is my prayer from this day, the first day of a new year, going forward, for you, for me and for all who desire Him in greater measure.

It is a privilege not to be taken lightly, granted by the Father to all His children, to experience grace — His grace. Given freely, grace to find the nourishment necessary to live an abundant life made possible only by feeding on Jesus.

Jesus told those murmuring against Him, “I am the bread of life … I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” Just a f  ew verses later, He says, "so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” (John 6)

We cannot separate who Christ is from what Christ gives. He gave his all so we might live. He is the bread that came down from heaven, a fulfillment of the gift of manna to God’s chosen people wandering in the desert. While the manna from heaven was provided to sustain physical life, Jesus came as bread to provide and sustain eternal life.

Oh for grace! What a privilege to feast on Him, the Bread of Life — the Father’s provision to God’s people wandering in this desert called life. We may look at the ancient Israelites as undeserving since they sinned against God so many times, rebelling against His clear instruction, even to the extent of turning heart-hearted against Him at times. But, if we would simply overlay our lives on that of the image of the ancient Israelites, we might be surprised to find that we’re not much different.

Oh for grace! The Father didn’t have to provide manna to his rebels in the desert, but He did it because He loved them and heard their cries. On the same wise, the Father didn’t have to provide the “Bread of Life” to you and me, much like those wandering this earth in rebellion against Him, but He did it because He loved us and knew that without His grace mankind had no hope.

Oh for grace! Because Jesus came and offered Himself to us and for us, we can feed on Him and live. And, according to His own words, “whoever feeds on this bread will live forever”.

This is a year for bread … not just the bread that comes out of the oven, filling our natural senses and satisfying our temporal bodies. This is a year for feeding on Jesus — the Bread of Life that came down from heaven so we may live forever.

You are invited to take this journey with me during 2015 as we recline at His table, eating of His Bread, and finding eternal satisfaction and live in His most gracious provision.

Yes … oh for grace! I cannot thank Him enough for loving me in such a way that provision has been made to give me strength to walk this walk while on this journey with Jesus to that celestial shore where all will live in perfect peace in Him for eternity.