Early in the morning, bakers wake up to start a delicious process. They mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and a few other ingredients. They put the dough onto a floured surface and begin kneading it. Usually before the bread comes out of the oven, we can smell the bread and baked goods that are baking away in the fiercely hot oven.

Once the bread comes out of the oven, the delicious aroma tickles our noses and we have to restrain ourselves to give the bread time to cool off. (Maybe that’s just me)

That same baker may make cakes after the bread. Cakes, another delectable treat, usually is not eaten as often as bread. We usually indulge in cakes for special occasions, while we tend to include a hearty slice of bread in our diet more frequently.

If we know Jesus, He is our Bread of Life. He is our Living Water. When we go to Him, we will never hunger or thirst.

During tough times, we may distance ourselves from God. We may not intend to do it, but it happens and we feel ourselves growing farther and farther away from Him.

He can use those tough times for a purpose greater than ourselves.

Most breads require kneading to come out according to the recipe.

God can knead and work in our lives to shape us into the person we are to be for His honor and glory.

He wants us to spend time with Him. Everyday, not just once in a while. We can liken reading the Bible to bread and cakes. The Bible is meant to be bread for daily  use, not cake for special occasions.

John 6:35

“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.”

 

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, there’s a section in which Don is talking to a friend  who is telling him about when she first became a Christian. This is the last statement she made:

“I always thought the Bible was more of a salad thing, you know, but it isn’t. It is a chocolate thing.”

That statement made me stop and think. If we aren’t close to  God, we can feel like reading the Bible  is more like a salad than chocolate. (Of course, this wouldn’t apply if you love salads more than chocolate)

Something that we have to do, instead of something we get to do. Jesus never wanted us to read the Bible as if it was something we have to do. His hope is that we love Him and His Word so much that we will treat His Word as a priceless treasure.

July 4th is coming up and it can make us think of what has happened in the USA. I’m so thankful for the many soldiers that have made the ultimate sacrifice.  Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.

Thinking of our great nation, we have so much to be thankful for. Most of us may have more than one copy of the Bible in our homes. Where in third world countries, most people don’t get the privilege of owning a copy of the Bible,  unless the Bibles are smuggled in.

If we are feeling distant from God, we need to ask ourselves who moved. The answer is simple. God never moves. He is right there waiting for us to run to Him.

He will sustain us daily, all we need to do is seek His face and read His Word, our spiritual sustenance for today and every day to come.

 

 

 

 

Photo cred: pinterest.com