John 6:37 – (Jesus said) “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.”
RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING: John 6:1-40 – After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
COMMENTS: Today’s scripture from John 6 has so much to tell us about God’s unspeakable love and commitment to all humans, both those who love Him and even those who don’t. He doesn’t give up or abandon us even when we betray Him.
Jesus not only shared the Fathers compassion but His Father’s plan for redeeming His beloved human creation. Jesus not only agreed with the Father’s plan but became the sacrifice to redeem them. Consider that His gift of salvation is available and offered to everyone, even the most sinful and hateful of us. God’s judgment will not be given to those He rejected but to those who refused to accept His redemption. So what does it mean for God to harden a person’s heart, like scripture said He did to Pharaoh in story of Moses in Genesis? I have to confess I continue to wonder and ponder this and believe God still has more to reveal on this question. But given God’s compassion for all human beings while still allowing free will and free choice to all, the consequence of a hardened heart a consequence to a foolish choice and not an irrevocable judgment. A hardened heart is the result of rejecting God and moving away from God. Our hearts become tender and more like His as we move closer to Him. I envision it to be like the earth getting colder as its position with the sun reduces amount of sun’s rays to warm the earth. As cold is the absence of heat, so is a heard heart the absence of God’s influence.
Well, let’s move on. God provided manna for all the 3,000,000 Israelites for 40 years even though they rejected Him and refused to trust Him by entering the Promised Land when they should have. They continued to complain and lack trust in God but He still sustained them all for the remainder of their days. Yet God would not allow any of them to enter the promised land, only their children and the two who tried to convince them to enter promised land 40 years before, Joshua and Caleb.
Also consider how Jesus then told them Jesus became their manna sustaining them and us daily. His nourishment is needed daily directly from Him in order to have and sustain eternal life. That means, in order to be healthy and remain healthy in spirit, we need fellowship with Him daily. That is why He provides His Holy Spirit to abide with us all the time so we maintain access to His life giving manna each and every day. The manna of His Word and manna of His abiding presence and fellowship. That manna is available to all but must be taken into our spirits to bring life.
Reflect on the parables Jesus taught. For example the Father didn’t leave the prodigal. The prodigal left the father. The prodigal’s heart was hardened towards the father until his situation got bad enough he was forced to put aside the pride that kept his heart hard aside and let humility soften his heart and motivate him to return to his father. So why do you think God continued to sustain the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness? His mercy longed for their fellowship but His justice could not permit them to enter the Promised Land. Scripture does not reveal their repentance or His forgiveness but I’m wondering if their hearts did soften. Moses continued fellowship with God and his eternal home secure but God did not permit him to enter the promised-land either. There is a cost for sin. Christ’s redemption spares us the eternal cost, but there may remain some residual scares for our sin, like those influenced by exposure to or consequences of our sins. Solomon was influenced by David’s relationship and faith in and love for God but also by David’s sin with Bathsheba and the many wives David acquired. Solomon also indulged in acquiring many wives in spite of the wisdom and intimate relationship God blessed Him with. Those wives drew him away from God and into deeper sin. How it must have broken God’s heart for Solomon to be so close to Him and have such wisdom and yet choose to give it up so He could indulge his fantasies and take advantage of the world’s accepted privileges being a powerful rich king commanded. Consider how much better David’s and Solomon’s life would have turned out if David would have waiting for God’s one best choice for David’s only wife. I believe it would have been Abigail. Read 1 Samuel 25 to get details. Imagine if Solomon’s mother would have been Abigail, and Solomon would have been satisfied with one and only one wife of God’s choosing and the description of their love described in the Song of Solomon would have remained only for her. His wisdom and relationship with God would have remained strong through his last breath.
THAT IS GOD’S BEST HE HAS FOR YOU AND ME IF WE REMAIN FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENCE ALL OUR LIVES LIKE DANIEL AND JOSEPH DID!! AMEN? AMEN!
Rather than doubt, let the triumphant hymn be your song: “Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me. And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”
PRAYER: “Heavenly Father, remove our doubt and despair, and remind us of Your love-a love that welcomes all into your glorious fold. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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