Bread Is Life

" Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do  not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.' --[Ephesians 5: 15-20.]

Paul preached in Ephesus, a place where early Christians were working in great diligence to spread The Word and show their love of Christ. But, Paul chides Christians in Ephesus: " But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the Love you had at first." -[Revelation 2:4].

I have worked very hard to be a good Christian. My Faith has unfolded like a beautiful flower, budding up, then slowly unfurling in splendor.

This process has captivated some. Christian friends have said that I am "transforming before their very eyes."  I smile more, I am more confident, I even experience Joy now!

But, this "born-again" process - and it IS a process-- is painstaking and even painful. I tend to think of being "born-again" as going through a birth tunnel, except we are adults, and we can feel every bit of pain. Certainly, I don't understand how anyone could go through this process alone, without Faith and without God!

This process goes through stages. I remember when a dear friend gave me my first Bible, when I was already an adult, married and a mother. So many of the things that my family had taught me, that I had this nagging feeling were wrong, wrong and more wrong -- were corrected simply and beautifully in Scripture.

I was told as a child to wear only certain colors- - I read Matthew 6: 28, wide-eyed, soothing me with the words, " Why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow."

I was told that we alone as humans are responsible for ourselves. That People who think there IS a God to rely on are weak and useless. I read Matthew 10: 29 with a softened heart: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the gound outside your Father's care"

I used to read Scripture so eagerly. I could not get enough of the Truth. I so desperately wanted to set my thinking right. I used to hide my Bible under my desk at work, and if I was having a bad moment, I would read and memorize certain passages.

 I used to go to the chapel daily and sit before the Tabernacle, pouring out my troubles to the Lord and praising Him for all the blessings in my life.

It is not as if I feel that I am complete in my Faith now. Far from it.

But, I am in a different stage now. I am a "doing Christian." Whereas I started out as a "being Christian". I now run around diligently, helping others, writing about the Word, serving at my church.

All of this is good, very good. But the message to Ephesus in Revelation 2 really resonates with me. It is as if that burning Love that I had at first, as a Christian, has faded.

There is a tendency in all of us Christians today, to be indifferent. This is the greatest danger to our Church today!

We DO mostly the right things. But how often do I slow down to simply thank God, to ask for His Counsel, to "try to understand what is the will of the Lord"?  --[Ephesians 5].

The Bread of Life is not "being diligent". In a way, it is even more than simply believing. Both of these -- Faith and diligence-- can easily wear thin!

The Bread of Life is to seek Jesus. To love Him with all of our hearts and minds and souls.

The Bread of Life is to watch carefully how we live, seeking the Spirit, which advocates what Jesus taught us -- joy, patience, self-control, kindness, peace, goodness, generosity, modesty, faithfulness, charity, gentleness.

{I notice that these are states of Being, not acts of doing!}

The Bread of Life means "not continuing in ignorance", not being afraid to delve into the Bible to learn the Truth about how to be modest, peaceful, patient, etc.

The Bread of Life means giving thanks, always, for what you DO have, not complaining about what you don't have!

The Bread of Life is Jesus Himself. Seek Him.