John 6:25-59 – All God Wants From Us

Read John 6:25-59

What a teaching those people received! The day before they had been fed bread and fish, and today they had been nourished by the Bread of Life himself. It appears from the reading that they had found Jesus on the other side of the lake, presumably in Capernaum, teaching in a synagogue. Although, intrigue turned to doubt for many who had come to find Jesus.

Jesus got the crowd riled up when he began explaining what it meant for him to be the bread of life. Can you imagine hearing those words the first time spoken! Even people today think it is gruesome and cannibalistic. But Jesus was not speaking literally, although later his words will be very meaningful during his last meal with his friends. This teaching is a good companion text to that sacramental meal. Continue reading “John 6:25-59 – All God Wants From Us”

Amos 5:21-24 – What Does God Want?

Read Amos 5:21-24

Our reading may seem a bit obscure at first, so it’s helpful to have a little context. Amos was a prophet living in the time of the more well-known prophet, Isaiah, who was used by God to warn the Israelite people of coming destruction. Amos also brought this warning to the people, and just verses before, he was pleading with the people to repent.

Despite being part of a section warning people of the coming judgment, Amos speaks wisdom to us in support of our theme, “Living as God Desires.” What do we see in that regard? Just a few verses earlier, in verses 14 and 15, Amos says this in his cry to repent: “Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will have mercy on the remnant of his people.” Continue reading “Amos 5:21-24 – What Does God Want?”

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