Given by the Father and Kept By Christ- John 6:37-40

"All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me,

and the one who comes to Me

I will certainly not cast out.

For I have come down from heaven,

not to do my own will,

but the will of Him who sent Me.

And this is the will of Him who sent Me,

that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing,

but raise it up on the last day.

For this is the will of My Father,

that everyone who beholds the Son

and believes in Him, may have eternal life;

and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

(John 6:37-40)

Such wonderful words of encouragement are found in these verses.

First is the marvelous, merciful declaration of the Father's calling of sinners and of Christ's absolute willingness to receive them. "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out."

God the sovereign Father has set His electing seal upon sinners and those He has given to Jesus will come to Jesus - all of them (the words of Christ, not of Lori). Oh, it is by grace that we are saved and it is by mercy that we are received. Christ Jesus, our Savior, will not cast us out nor refuse us - no matter what we've done, who we are, how we've behaved. If, by faith, we come to Him, He will receive us, forgive us, cleanse us, adopt us, love us, and give us everlasting life. Is this not good news?!

Second is the powerfully preserving declaration that once we are apprehended by Christ, we will be kept by Christ. "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

Those whom the Father has given to Christ will be kept by Christ. How that soothes my sinful soul. I may sinfully and stubbornly wiggle in His lap but He will keep me there! Satan may prowl but Jesus will protect! The world may seek to draw me away but He, Himself will raise me up! Is there any safer place to be than in Christ?! The answer is a resounding NO! "He who began the good work in you will carry it on until the day of Christ Jesus." (Ph 1:6).

Ryle writes: "Christ will not allow any soul that is committed to Him to be lost and cast away. He will keep it safe from grace to glory, in spite of the world, the flesh and the devil. Not one bone of his mystical body shall ever be broken, not one lamb of His flock shall ever be left behind in the wilderness. He will raise to glory, on the last day, the whole flock entrusted to His charge, and not one shall be found missing."

Is that not our only hope. If it could be lost, this wandering sheep would lose it. Praise God for an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, ever merciful and all wise Shepherd who keeps His flock.

Safe,

Lori

Bread That Satisfies - John 6:31-35

"Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness;

as it is written, 'He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.'

Jesus therefore said to them, 'Truly, truly I say to you,

it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven,

but it is My Fahter who gives you the true bread out of heaven.

For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven,

and gives life to the world;

They said therefore to Him, 'Lord, evermore give us this bread.'

Jesus said to them,

"I am the bread of life;

he who comes to me shall not hunger,

and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'"

(John 6:31-35)

In John 6, Jesus has fed 5,000 + with physical bread. Here, halfway through this chapter, the conversation turns once again to hungry folks and to the bread that will eternally satisfy.

The multitude begins to recount the miraculous giving of Manna during the time of Moses and they challenge Jesus to do some act of a similar magnitude. He doesn't jump through their hoops. Instead He points them to gospel truth. "You want bread? I am the Bread you most need. Moses fed your body, I will feed your soul. Your ancestors ate Moses' bread and died. If you will feast on Me you will live forever."

Ryle writes: "Christ is the appointed food for man's soul. The soul of every man is naturally starving through sin. Christ is given by God to be the satisfier of man's spiritual need. In Him alone are our wants supplied."

Is your soul hungry? Come to Jesus. Here is the Bread of life that will meet your every need and meet it fully. Here is a meal that will satisfy - forever!

Full and satisfied,

Lori