” … WILL LIVE BECAUSE OF ME” – Christadelphian thoughts based on the daily readings for April 14th 2016


” … WILL LIVE BECAUSE OF ME”

The chapters we have been reading in Numbers spell out the details of the 40 year journey through the wilderness to “the promised land” and the challenges they would face in the land..  There would be the need to “destroy all their figured stones and destroy … and demolish …” them. [Numbers 33 v.52].  This causes us to ponder what enormous challenges there will be to make changes when Jesus returns.  How can God’s “glory be over all the earth!” [Psalm57 v.5,11] unless this happens?  It cannot!

Our Proverbs chapter tells us, “the devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.” [24 v.9] Our world today, more than ever, is full of “folly” and things which are an abomination to God. 

When Christ returns – what then!? We pray that, to at least some degree, the prophecy in Isaiah 55 v.7 will operate; “let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”  However, seeing that so many scoff at the very possibility there is a Creator – what a challenge it will be for “the wicked to forsake his way.”

In our chapter 6 in John’s gospel, after recording the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 Jesus says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger …”

[v.35]

What kind of hunger? What kind of life?  Jesus further says, “whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

[v.35]

Only those who are genuinely seeking a relationship with him – from their hearts – grasp what he means. What kind of thirst?  Jesus tells them, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’

[v.37,38]

What does he mean?  Those who know the prophets, especially Isaiah, would know!  Ch. 12 in Isaiah starts, “You will say in that day… the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” This is beautiful parabolic language.

Back in John 6 we recall how Jesus tells them to “work for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.”

[v.27]

   To them Jesus says, “this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

[v.40]

.

We need to “feed” our minds on Jesus’ words – making them part of our thinking. In John 4 v34 we read, how “Jesus said … My food is to do the will of him who sent me”  Let us do the same – feeding our minds on God’s word every day – and we will be among those of whom Jesus said they  “will live because of me.” [6 v.57]

By Bro D.Caudery

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