Thoughts for another day

Sept. 7, 2011

Today's verse: Jn. 6:63. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When I sit in prayer sometimes I feel dryness and a lack of connectedness with God.  As I move out, I also don't feel gladness in my heart and the confidence that should accompany me after praying.  I realize now that in my prayer, I didn't have the Spirit of the Lord Who is the Living Waters Who saturates me with the rain of heaven, bubbling deep inside bringing in me the joy of the Lord which is my strength.

Therefore, imbibing the Word of Christ is needed so that my prayer is meaningful and worthy of bearing great fruit.  I marvel not at what the world tells me, or the difficulties I need to beat, in order to attain to the Ministry that Christ in His mercy has given me.  What I marvel at is rather what the Lord says, 'unless you eat the flesh of the Son off Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you!' Yes, when Jesus said this, many left Him saying, 'this Word is hard, who can accept it?'  It's because, to eat His body and drink His blood isn't for everyone but for those whom His Father in heaven has allotted and it doesn't only mean we eat and drink His body and blood and leave it at that; rather, having got into an intimate relationship with Him whereby He is ingrained in every fiber of our being, we must strive to do what He seeks: Leave behind all we have and move forward with the Cross; and in that lies the challenge of a life-time.

But for those who choose the Lord above all, it's the beginning of a wonderful journey on earth to be crowned at death with an even bigger crown as an inheritor of the Kingdom.  The journey Jesus asks us to make on earth is fraught with uncertainties, anxieties and inherent scorn from men.  And mind you, the true man of God doesn't mollycoddle the people of esteem who can help him, rather he goes about proclaiming the Word in all its essence, just at His Master did, even willing to die for it.  Then only is the truth of our Scripture clear – Your Words oh Lord are Spirit and they are life!  For having believed in His Word, we believe we have life even if we die!