Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read John 6:66-71.
"Jesus answered them, 'Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet
one of you is a devil'" (John 6:70). 

Lenten Devotion- In sadness Jesus watched the crowds turn and
walk away. Now He turns to His twelve chosen disciples and asks
if they want to leave too. The Lord won't force them to stay at His
side; He won't force you and me to stay either.

Peter answers, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of
eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You
are the Holy One of God." The Holy Spirit led Peter to this great
confession.

But Jesus knew Peter wasn't speaking for every one of the disciples.
He knew all too well that one of them had turned away, even though
he was still standing by Jesus' side. None of the other disciples was
aware, but Judas had secretly rejected Jesus' Kingdom of light and
allied himself with the prince of darkness. The darkness had so
deceived Judas he thought Jesus would never know what was in his
heart.

Judas' darkness is in each of us too and can deceive us as
thoroughly as it deceived him. On the outside we can be active in
our churches. Yet deep in our hearts we may have grown cold to
Jesus. It's so easy to go through the motions of faith, while our
hearts turn away to the darkness like Judas.

Jesus calls us to stop and examine the depths of our soul. Are we
sincere in our faith, or are we servants of darkness going through
the motions? It's a matter of life and death and heaven and hell for
us just as it was for Judas.

THE PRAYER:

Holy Spirit, remove all that is false and impure from my heart, and fill
me with the fire of faith in Jesus Christ my Savior. In Jesus' Name.
Amen.

"His Terms or Ours?"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read John 6:35-44, 51-66.
"After this many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked
with Him" (John 6:66). 

Lenten Devotion- The crowds want Jesus to be their King so He can
provide for their daily lives. Jesus has so much more He wants to
give them. He shows this by talking about the manna God gave the
Israelites in the wilderness. Sure, the manna sustained them day by
day. However, it eventually failed them, and every one of them finally
died. Jesus wants to give something far greater than manna. He
wants to give us Himself -- the true Bread from heaven that allows a
person to eat and live forever.

That was more than the crowds were willing to accept. They were
offended when He said His flesh was that bread. Jesus knew they
were upset. Yet rather than backing off, He turned up the heat and
pushed even harder, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the
flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
" Many in the crowds rejected His terms, turned away and stopped
following Him.

What do you think Jesus did? Do you picture Him running after them,
calling them back? Not the King of Israel, He stands firm as the
multitudes walk away into the darkness. In time even more will
abandon Him. Soon He will hang alone on the cross in the darkness,
but He will stand firm to the end to save us.

Every human who encounters the King of kings through the Gospel
reaches this fork in the road. Repent and believe in Jesus and you
will live with Him in heaven forever. Turn away in unbelief and you will
die forever.

THE PRAYER:

 Holy Lord, empower me to set aside my hesitation and follow You
in faith. Amen.

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read John 6:22-27.
"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking
Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of
the loaves'" (John 6:26).  

Lenten Devotion- After the festival Jesus returned north to Galilee.
He spent a whole day preaching and then fed the huge crowd with
five loaves and two fish. That night after He sent them away, He
walked across the Sea of Galilee. Gathering again the next day,
the crowds walked around the lake to find Him.

At first those people sound like genuine followers of Jesus. But
our Lord knows better. They aren't really there for Him; they are
there for themselves. They want Jesus to be their king -- but only
on their terms. They aren't concerned with their deep eternal needs
like He is; they only want what Jesus can give them in the present.

We can be just as near-sighted as they. We are consumed with
today's needs and desires, but we don't see the more significant
eternal gifts Christ comes to bring. So we ask Him to help us
through our needs and problems, but we don't give a single thought
to His Kingdom and the part He would have us play in that Kingdom.

That is why coming to Christ in worship is so vital. Each week in
church He shows us the bigger picture -- the unending punishment
we deserve for our selfish, disobedient lives, as well as the
forgiveness and eternal future He gives us through His life, death and
resurrection. Yes, He knows and cares about all our earthly needs
and will provide for each of them just as He has provided for our
eternal needs.

THE PRAYER:

 Lord Jesus, when I get too wrapped up in this life and my daily needs,
lift my eyes to see the glorious future You have won for all of us by
Your life, death and resurrection. Amen.