Do you ever dream as you are slowly pulled from sleep to consciousness? This morning as I was slowly pulled from sleep to consciousness my dream was about the song: “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah.” Is that not bizarre?? I haven’t sung or heard that song in years!
Here are the lyrics which I woke up with this morning going through my head:
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
Pilgrim through this barren land
I am weak, but Thou art mighty
Hold me with Thy powerful hand
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven
Feed me ‘til I want no more
Feed me ‘til I want no more
What I found particularly fascinating is that all day long yesterday I had been pondering how Jesus is the “Bread of Life.”
I had written last week about how that when Jesus multiplied the little boy’s lunch to feed the crowd of possibly upwards of 10,000+ people … he chose to use barley loaves. (blog title: “Love does not boast or Brag) I have been thinking and thinking about that ever since.
Jesus didn’t multiply fresh delicious white bread slathered with butter. This is my very favorite type of bread! Especially at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant … best rolls ever!
But I can’t eat rolls like this very often. I gain weight if I eat fresh hot delicious rolls slathered with butter. I must save such things for extra special celebration occasions. In fact, I can’t really eat much bread at all … or I gain weight. At this stage of my life, I have to be very careful how much bread I eat.
I’m not gluten intolerant. I just can’t eat bread like I used to when I was younger.
Which then led me to think how Jesus described himself as the “Bread of Life.” (John 6:35)
When you think of “bread” … what is your immediate “blink” reaction? For me, personally, my immediate “blink” reaction is: “I can’t have that. That will make me fat.”
In religious settings we are used to seeing beautiful pictures of delicious fluffy white bread, paired with scriptures about Jesus being the “Bread of Life.” But whenever I look at these pictures, deep down I think: “I can’t have that. That will make me fat.”
And perhaps someone who has gluten intolerance or is celiac would likewise be thinking: “That’s great and all … but I can’t have that. That will make me physically sick.”
So, I have been thinking about all of this the past few days. Then I woke up this morning with the lyrics – “Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, feed me ‘til I want no more” – going through my head.
And I realized … Jesus is the specific “bread” that I need. Exactly for me. Exactly what I personally need.
Jesus isn’t fluffy white bread which will make me fat.
Jesus is nutritious nutty whole wheat bread which will nourish and sustain me. Surprisingly, I don’t get fat from eating the rolls I make from grinding wheat berries into fresh whole wheat flour … then immediately baking it into rolls. These rolls fill me up and don’t leave me hungry for more, like fluffy white bread does.
These rolls aren’t dense and tasteless like the whole wheat bread I can purchase from the store. The Honey Wheat Rolls I make from fresh-ground wheat berries are still light and fluffy in their own way. They leave me feeling full and satisfied. And after just one roll, I’m good. I’m satisfied.
This is what Jesus is for us!
This right here.
Jesus is like the gluten-free, sugar-free, Pumpkin-raisin muffins I baked for myself last week. I am not gluten-intolerant, but since I had just baked similar muffins for my daughter, I decided it would be fun to bake some for myself as well. It’s a great way to get nutrients which I wouldn’t otherwise get.
The recipe calls for 2 cups flour. So, I substituted: ½ cup Spelt flour, ½ cup Almond flour, ½ cup Oat flour, ¼ cup Millet flour, and ¼ cup Hazelnut flour.
All of these grains and nuts are incredibly nutritious. And I wouldn’t get them in my diet otherwise.
As I’ve been enjoying my Pumpkin-raisin muffins (with pumpkins we grew in the garden, and dates in the place of sugar), I can’t help but think – This is what Jesus is for us! This right here. This bread/muffin is incredibly nutritious. I can eat just one and I’m full and satisfied. My body feels happy and healthy afterwards.
This is the “bread” that Jesus is for us.
This right here.
Today’s blog topic is: Love trusts.
If we love Jesus Christ, we will trust that Jesus will be exactly what we need.
Jesus will be the specific “bread” that I need. Exactly what I personally need. Just like I don’t have to worry about fluffy white bread making me fat, but rather the freshly ground whole wheat rolls leave me feeling healthy and happy … in the same way I don’t have to worry when it comes to Jesus being the “bread” that I need. Jesus will specifically nourish my soul and provide exactly what I need.
The whole wheat rolls … I can eat just one and I’m full and satisfied. The Pumpkin muffins … I can eat just one and I’m full and satisfied. Jesus provides the same way. We don’t need boatloads of provision. Jesus can provide just a little bit for us … and it will be all we need.
Jesus can provide a little comfort … and it will be all we need. It will be exactly what we need.
Jesus can provide a little encouragement … and it will be all we need. We can keep going, because it’s exactly what we need.
Jesus can provide strength through a little verse of Scripture … and it will be all we need. We can keep going because it’s exactly what we need.
Jesus can provide a little peace … and it will be enough to sustain us.
Jesus will provide a little patience so we can hold our tongue … and it’s just enough for the moment. It’s exactly what we need.
Love trusts.
If we love Jesus Christ … we will trust Jesus.
We trust Jesus to provide, even when we don’t know how we are going to make it. We trust. Because our trust is an outworking of our love.
When Jesus asks us to “Be still” … and to “Wait” … we trust. We trust by “being still.” We trust by “waiting.” We trust, because our trust is an outworking of our love.
When Jesus asks us to patiently endure … we trust. We patiently endure. Because our trust is an outworking of our love.
When Jesus asks us to be kind to that person who was rude to us … we trust. We respond in kindness. Because our trust is an outworking of our love.
When Jesus asks us to let the offense go … we trust. We forgive … and forgive … and forgive … and forgive … again … and again … and again … etc. … Our trust is an outworking of our love.
Love trusts. Jesus will return and will make all things right. Jesus is completely just. Jesus is faithful. Jesus is trustworthy!
Just like I have my own personal needs, and Jesus is the “bread” specifically that I need … so also, you have different needs. You need different “bread” than the type of “bread” that I need. Jesus will be exactly what you need. Jesus will be for you exactly what you personally need.
Love trusts.
“So do not throw away your confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. ‘For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.’” – Hebrews 10:35-37 (NLT)
