Pastor Mary Haley

Intro: Because of sin, this world is a very difficult place to live—creation needs the redeeming grace of Almighty God. There are two spiritual leaders active in the world looking for followers: Jesus the Holy One and satan the evil one. Based on the spiritual leader chosen, human flesh will respond to this unholy or debaucherous environment in one of two ways: 1) Submit to God and resist evil’s temptation, or 2) Submit to evil and reject God. There are really only two options and it becomes more and more clear every day. Faith works through a God-centered love and submission to the Holy Spirit. Fear works through a self-centered love and submission to evil desires hiding in the flesh. We are commanded to walk by faith and not by fear, so we can receive God’s strength and power for our weaknesses (Joshua 1:9).

In our passage today, by God’s decree, Joshua [Yehoshua] has become Moses’ successor and will begin to lead Israel across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land of Canaan. Although Joshua has faithfully been in the service of God, he has a new role as “the leader.” To be successful in this new responsibility, Joshua must think, speak, and live the Word of God. The Word has been given to instruct and help people understand who God is and who we are to become.

God knows all things, so He is aware of the satanic fear that will try to dissuade Joshua and the people. Remember, it was fear that stopped Israel from crossing over into the Promised Land forty years earlier. God wanted to lavish is love and provision upon Israel, but they were too afraid to do what it would take to receive it. So, three times in our passage God reminds Joshua he must be strong and courageous as an example for the people.

The land of Canaan is symbolic of everything we have received in Jesus [Yeshua] our Leader. We must be strong and courageous in Jesus as we fight our many battles to live in the blessing of God—a life of victory as believers. God has blessings for us every single day, but we must be willing to do what it takes—be strong and courageous—and overcome evil with good as we place our faith in “the Leader.” Do not allow yourself to become discouraged or afraid. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and he will establish you in his blessing and care (Pro 3:5-6).

Joshua 1:6-11 NLT The Lord’s Charge to Joshua
6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua’s Charge to the Israelites
10 Joshua then commanded the officers of Israel, 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Prayer: Lord, life is filled with an unholy and oppressive pressure that can lead us to a place of fear rather than faith and trust. So, today, please guide us into the truth of your provision and help us to rest in what you have promised. Give us your strength and help us to submit ourselves to your care in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Recently, I had a discussion with a friend about the word “commitment.” Every conversation I have had with others about commitment ends up revealing some very different ideas or interpretations. Some people have use words like love, devotion, or faithfulness in their interpretation of “commitment.” Others have used words like promise or loyalty. How would you define the word “commitment?”

In order to understand the biblical meaning of the word “commitment,” we must also look at the Hebrew word “khesed” [love] because these two words are bound together and describe God’s character perfectly. Listen to what God is like and how He describes Himself in Scripture: “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty (Exodus 34:6).

God’s love is not conditional; He IS love and He is merciful, generous, and deeply committed to us. As members of God’s family—who we are—we are to become reflections of God’s loyal love or khesed. Our sense of worth and value is built on God’s loyal love for us. Thus, the destiny before us is to become like Christ—loyal love incarnate—and one day, we will be just like him! God has already made the commitment.

1 John 3:1-3 VOICE
1 Consider the kind of extravagant love the Father has lavished on us—He calls us children of God! It’s true; we are His beloved children. And in the same way the world didn’t recognize Him, the world does not recognize us either.

2 My loved ones, we have been adopted into God’s family; and we are officially His children now. The full picture of our destiny is not yet clear, but we know this much: when Jesus appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is. 3 All those who focus their hopes on Him and His coming seek to purify themselves just as He is pure.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your commitment and loyal love. As we receive Your love and allow it to grow in us, we realize our true sense of worth to You. Help us to remain committed to Your pure love while we wait for Your return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Through our worship and Bible study lessons, as well as our daily devotionals, we have been looking at the power of faith expressed through genuine love. I have always gained greater knowledge with understanding from visual illustrations; it makes the things being explained more clear for me. So, when Scripture offers me an illustration that can paint a mental picture of faith and love for me, I am able to grab ahold of what is being explained. Did you know genuine faith in Christ works to offer visual illustrations of God’s love?

As a spiritual person being recreated in the image of Christ, how important are your actions? Well, if we are going to be the Chosen—a people of faith—we must put our faith into action in order to reveal the indwelling Christ. This is who we are…the people who have chosen to reveal the presence and character of our living Lord. Jesus is the Living Word of God.

In our passage today, James reminds the early church about doing more than talking about faith; they must illustrate their love for God and their love for others. To put our passage into context, the early Jewish believers in Christ thought it was enough to honor their religious practices and traditions. James wanted them to know it was not their Jewishness that brought them salvation; rather it was their faith in God through acts of loving service. Otherwise, faith is really useless—not going to fulfill God’s expected purpose.

James uses the illustration that our spiritual gifts are not to be separated from our acts of faith. For example, one believer might have a strong gift of faith [trust in God], another believer might have a strong gift of service [mission work], while yet another believer has a strong gift of proclamation [teaching and preaching]. Does that mean the preacher or teacher of faith does not have to share in works of service? Absolutely not; clearly, every believer needs to be illustrating God’s love for the world in tangible ways [works] of service every day. Jesus did and we must!

James 2:14-19 VOICE
14 Brothers and sisters, it doesn’t make any sense to say you have faith and act in a way that denies that faith. Mere talk never gets you very far, and a commitment to Jesus only in words will not save you. 15 It would be like seeing a brother or sister without any clothes out in the cold and begging for food, and 16 saying, “Shalom, friend, you should get inside where it’s warm and eat something,” but doing nothing about his needs—leaving him cold and alone on the street. What good would your words alone do? 17 The same is true with faith. Without actions, faith is useless. By itself, it’s as good as dead. 18 I know what you’re thinking: “OK, you have faith. And I have actions. Now let’s see your faith without works, and I’ll show you a faith that works.”

19 Do you think that just believing there’s one God is going to get you anywhere? The demons believe that, too, and it terrifies them!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the illustrations your Word offers for our lives. We can understand and know your character by spending time reading how you lived and what is important to you. We thank you for our gifts and for the grace and power to operate in them. Help us to use and partner them with acts of love for others each day. You are living within us and are wanting to reach the world around us. May we allow you the honor you are due by obeying and living your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: As human beings created by God and made in His image, we tend to have an awareness when we have not aligned with the will of the Lord. Certainly, we can sear our consciences by demanding our own way, but sometimes we are just ignorant about the power of our decisions to lead us away from God. This may take our souls to a place of unrest—uneasiness, sleeplessness, turmoil—so, we wander looking for peace.

I believe God allows us these wrestling experiences with our souls to help us find a deeper knowledge of Him and who He is as our Prince of Peace. Think about it this way, if we never experience unrest or turmoil in our souls, we will not look or reach for the Peace only God can give. He wants more for us and to enjoy more with us. Therefore, God promises to use all things for our good when we love Him and are called according to his purpose for us (Ro 8:28) Do you see how times of unrest in your life have been God’s way to draw you closer to Himself?

In our passage today, king Darius has spent a night in turmoil; waiting to see if Daniel’s God protected and delivered him from death while in the lion’s den. When the king finds Daniel alive, he implements justice by taking action against the envious administrators who sought to trick him into killing Daniel. Then, the king makes a righteous decree for everyone to worship Daniel’s God. So, what the enemy meant for destruction, God used to increase righteousness for his glory. God has promised to faithfully protect his servants and Daniel’s story reminds us of his power and ability to do so.

Daniel 6:19-28 NLT
19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”

21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.

24 Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.

25 Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you!
26 “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

For he is the living God,    and he will endure forever.His kingdom will never be destroyed,    and his rule will never end.
27 
He rescues and saves his people;    he performs miraculous signs and wonders    in the heavens and on earth.He has rescued Daniel    from the power of the lions.”
28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Prayer: Lord, you are the God of all miracles and you can shut the mouths of lions and destroy evil according to your word and will to save. Thank you for protecting us by the Truth as we live the Truth in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: There are positive or negative consequences for every decision we make; therefore, we need to bathe every choice in prayer. Nothing is too small or too big to bring to the Lord. Prayer should be like breathing in and breathing out as we seek the will of God with every decision. Otherwise, we may find ourselves filled with regret as we watch the chain of events that begin to tumble from our poor choices. God’s Word encourages us to remember we will reap whatever we sow; when we sow poor decisions—things outside the will of God—we must face what follows.

In our passage today, king Darius has not weighed all the negative consequences that may come with his decision to enact an unjust law against prayer. Consequence #1: Soon after he enacts the law, the king realizes this law will cost the life of his best servant. Consequence #2: Darius has no power to revoke the law. Consequence #3: Darius’ soul is troubled and filled with regret. Our lesson, today, is to pray about everything and know God will lead us toward reaping good consequences…abundant favor.

Daniel 6:13-18 NLT Daniel in the Lion’s Den
13 Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
14 Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.
15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”

16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power of prayer and the wisdom to know how to make decisions that will yield positive consequences. Help us learn from the life of Daniel that you are always there to save us from evil. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Envy is very detrimental to the soul, so God communicated about that danger when he said, “You must not covet…” (Ex 20:17). Envy is sin; sin brings suffering. The biblical definition of envy is the sin of jealousy over the blessings and achievements of others, especially the spiritual enjoyment, and advance of the kingdom of Christ freely and graciously bestowed upon the people of God. Both the Old and New Testament help us understand God’s warning; we see it manifest in the lives of biblical characters and the trauma it brings into their relationships (E.g. Cain/Abel).

Envy births a wicked and ungrateful attitude toward God and others, because it rests on the foundation of making comparisons. We are all unique in how God has made us and our gifts and needs for resources may be very different, so envy actually makes us blind to the beauty in which God has made us as individuals. When we envy others, we are really wasting our time, energy, and opportunities to make a difference for Christ’s kingdom.

In our passage today, Daniel is the focus of his fellow administrators’ envy. They hate his integrity and abilities, but Daniel is faultless in those areas. So, these envious administrators plot and accuse Daniel of violating the official law with his religion; that no one will pray to anyone but king Darias. Daniel cannot obey the law, so he bows his head and bends his knees three times every day knowing the price he will pay for his obedience to God. Will Daniel’s gratitude and allegiance to God break the power of envy set to destroy him?

Daniel 6:1-12 NLT
1 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.
4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”

6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 12 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”

“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”

Prayer: Lord, may we truly be grateful, today, for who you made each of us to be as workers in your kingdom. May we be impeccable with our integrity and helpful with our gifts and abilities to make a difference in your kingdom. Thank you for Daniel’s powerful example of gratitude and allegiance. Help us to stand strong for you, because we bend our knees in prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Humanity just loves to label things and people. We want to decide who we are, who other people are, and then hang a sign on the doorpost of our lives convinced we have the truth. But, friends, God cannot be labeled and we are made in His image or likeness. God alone knows who we are and who He created us to be. When we recognize that as Truth, we will bow and worship Him knowing there is no one with more authority.

In our passage today, king Nebuchadnezzar exalts himself to obtain human worshippers; everyone in his empire has no choice but to honor his demands. Nebuchadnezzar is a pagan worshiper who, along with his kingdom people, serves many false gods, so he just adds himself to the list of these gods. This king is so set on control and homage, he erects a nine-story gilded statue of himself, positions musicians to play, and directs everyone to bow to the statue of his likeness. As the music plays, the people of the empire are all bowed down; all except three brave men who refuse to bow to anyone but Almighty God. Can you image the picture or social pressure of this fiery trial?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will not allow another human to define them or rob their worship of the Most High God. God protects these men [perhaps through the pre-incarnate Christ] while they are in the fiery furnace; the penalty brought against them through the forces of evil. God rescues these three young men and, as a result, the king recognizes the authority of God.

We will face our own fiery trials when we refuse to worship the false gods of this world, but we never face them alone (1 Pet 4:12-13). Christ is there to protect us and deliver us from evil. Aren’t you grateful to have Jesus with you in every fiery trial you face?

Daniel 3:19-30 NLT The Blazing Furnace
19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for rescuing us from evil each day; we never have to face the forces of evil or the fiery trials without you. May our sincere worship of you today bring glory to your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: We need to hear the truth everyday, because the human conscience can get seared. Simply stated, people can be guilty before God and not feel guilty. For this reason, we must stay in the Word of God, so our words and actions align. Sin should bring a feeling of shame, but when we choose to ignore the truth we no longer hear the “voice” telling us our behavior is wrong or sinful.

In our passage today, we are introduced to Herod Antipas who was made Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea when his father Herod the Great died in 4 BC. Although he was positioned as a Jewish ruler from 4 BC to 39 AD, Antipas saw himself above Jewish law most of the time. For example, Antipas talked the wife of his brother Phillip into violating the Jewish law by leaving her husband and marrying him (Lev 18:16). He was guilty before God, but he did not feel guilty.

John the Baptist was determined not to let Antipas forget he was to govern God’s people. John was focused on repentance and righteousness, so he condemned Antipas for adultery when he married his brother’s wife. For John, sin was sin, so he did not shy away from warning Antipas or his wife about their sin against the laws of God.

Antipas hated the truth John proclaimed; but his wife, Herodias, took the necessary action to silence John. Because Antipas cared more about his image with people than pleasing God, he order the execution of John. In fact, this ruler was known for his duplicity—the practice of working to people’s disadvantage behind their back. Antipas was a deceiver and liar; even Jesus referred to him as “that fox” (Luke 13:32).

Matthew 14:1-12 NLT The Death of John the Baptist
1 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, 2 he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”
3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip). 4 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.

6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, 7 so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. 8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” 9 Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. 10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.

Prayer: Lord, from the beginning you used human shame to help your people turn away from sin and toward you. Help us, as believers, to never silence your voice in our conscience; we need to hear you everyday in order to live in a way that pleases you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: I deeply love the writings of the psalmists, because they encourage me in managing the emotions of my own soul. Whether the psalmists are lamenting or rejoicing, these writers always find a way to lift up praise and remain focused on the faithfulness of our God. True, they may sound angry or discourage in some writings—even feeling abandoned by God at times—but these writers inspire faith in our soul realm, because we know they sing the truth: God [above all others] is to be praised and honored.

We cannot possess the mind of God, so he allows us to be authentic and learn about his loving nature and the redemption he offers to all. Praise refocuses our attention and some days we definitely need refocusing! Maintaining an attitude of praise brings every child of God to a place of worship—oneness with the only One who can turn our weeping into rejoicing [our sorrow into joy]. Are you lamenting or rejoicing today?

Today in our passage, the psalmist praises the King of creation who inspires awe in human beings, because his love is beyond human comprehension. No other relationship we have in life can compare to the love of God for us. I am convinced human beings, as a whole, have no clue about the depth of God’s love and provision for all creation; otherwise, the nations would universally serve and worship him.

So, let’s be great examples of praisers, today. Let’s praise his wonderful name and allow the Spirit to make us mighty in his power and strength. God knows we are weak, but when we are willing to allow the Spirit to transform us, we are connected to the powerful and saving work of the Lord.

Psalm 96:1-6 NLV A Call to Worship the Lord
1 Sing to the Lord a new song. Let all the earth sing to the Lord. 2 Sing to the Lord. Honor His name. Make His saving power known from day to day. 3 Tell of His shining-greatness among the nations. Tell of His wonderful works among all the people. 4 For the Lord is great and should be given much praise. He is to be honored with fear above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are false gods. But the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honor and great power are with Him. Strength and beauty are in His holy place.

Prayer: Lord, we praise you with the songs of our hearts. May they sing of our love for you and express our gratitude for our salvation. May every beat of our hearts tell of your wonderful works and how you love and provide for us. Please forgive us for our limited faith at times and our failure to praise you even in our trials. Stimulate us to greater faith as we step out to represent and serve you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Eternal life is present both here and now, as well as in every moment we walk into the future. That’s because King Jesus and his Kingdom is within us and living in righteousness reveals them both actively manifesting in our lives. “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17). So, when we allow the Spirit to help us remain in Christ’s righteousness through our right attitudes and actions, we are experiencing miraculous signs of Christ’s presence, as well. Please don’t forget peace and joy are Kingdom experiences. “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another” (John 1:16). Are you enjoying Christ’s abundance?

Just prior to our passage for today, Jesus fed a crowd of people—five thousand men plus women and children—with five barley loaves and two fish. Talk about making an abundant meal for the masses from a snack! Even after experiencing this abundance from the hand of Jesus, people struggled to believe he was the King of Glory. In order to see the Kingdom, a person must be born again of the Spirit (John 3:3). However, even Spirit-filled believers may struggle a bit to see abundance, because everything in the Kingdom is about what the King of Glory does for us, not about what we do.

In our passage for today, Jesus tells the people following him to spend their energy seeking the Kingdom of eternal life. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “You thought the fish dinner was great, but press in deeper because you ain’t seen nothing yet!” So, please, “Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously and he will give you everything you need” (Mat 6:33).

John 6:26-35 NLT 26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do? “

29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while the journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat’”

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the abundance you came to bring us; we certainly need everything you have promised to provide. Thank you for being our daily Bread and for quenching our dry thirsty souls with your vibrant eternal life. This world drains us, but you fill us up to running over. We love you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.