Opening sentence. Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. John 6:68-69
Collect. Let us pray (that our minds may be fixed on eternal truth): Lord our God, all truth is from you, and you alone bring oneness of heart. Give your people the joy of hearing your word amid the din of human noise, and of longing for your presence more than for life itself. May all the attractions of a changing world point us to the peace of your kingdom, a peace which this world does not give. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading. Ephesians 6:10-20. The Armour of God is a favourite passage for devotions and sermons and is well worth keeping in mind as we begin each day. However we should not be so quick to move to the practical items that Paul describes. We need to consider his first and most important phrase, “Finally, be strong in the Lord”. Paul is reminding us to to keep uppermost in our minds the power and presence of God as we begin our day’s activities. A believer’s major fight is against an enemy that is unseen by human eye. Read again that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil. We in the West have had three centuries of Enlightenment Teaching which has successfully reduced our capacity to recognise when the forces of evil are present. Who has not been in a situation which causes the hairs on the back of your neck to tingle? When that happens the rational mind takes over and the feeling is either down played or dismissed altogether. Pretending that a danger does not exist does nothing to lessen the danger that is present. Paul’s advice is to be strong in the Lord, for against the forces of evil it is his presence that will prove effective. It is keeping a close relationship with the Lord which will assist us to put on the whole of the armour that is required. The armour that God supplies is what will keep us safe from both the unseen as well as the seen enemies that stand against plans and purpose of the Christian faith. The armour is not simply for our protection it is designed to bring about the victory against evil that God has planned.
Having considered that general view we see that God has provided each piece of armour with care. We hold to the truth about who Jesus is and what Jesus had done, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. Jesus and only Jesus is the head. The righteousness that Jesus supplies covers us completely and makes us worthy to go out to proclaim the the gospel of peace. Paul reminds us that we have treasure even though it is in vessels that are common and yet in those common vessels resides God’s power. The shield of faith helps us to hold firm to the understanding that both the fight and the power are God’s and keep us faithful. As Wesley said, “The doubts and fear of all our years are met in Him”. It is holding on to Jesus and the promises of Jesus that keeps us persevering in the fight to uphold the things of God. The helmet of salvation reminds us that we have been born anew and we now belong to Jesus as a member of his church. The word of God conveyed to us by the Spirit continues to refresh our faith and equip us to live out a credible witness to the Lord we love. All of this is possible as we stand strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
Prayer. Most Gracious Lord, you are the one who guides and protects, for to you belongs the power and the glory. Grant that today and every day we may bring to you an offering of praise and thanksgiving. By your power shield us from the attacks of the darkness that we may all walk in the light and be filled with grace and truth as your word promises. Holy Lord, plant the seeds of hope in our hearts afresh today, so we may grow strong in the Lord Jesus and rejoice in his goodness and love. Lift us above all those things of life which would hold us back from seeing how you are working with us for the good of all. May we trust more fully in your grace and find true security in knowing that we are your children. As your love embraces us today so may we embrace each other in love and fellowship, to your honour and glory. Amen
Reading. John 6:56-69. For a few weeks now we have been following John’s theme of Jesus as the “Bread of Life”. It is one of the great “I am” sayings of Jesus. John’s gospel is the one most often given to new believers or enquires, perhaps because of John 3:16. However as we read the passage for today we see that John delves deep into his theology of God to reveal what he sees as the great truth about Jesus and this calls for deeper reflection. The Jewish leaders and even some of Jesus’ closest followers found it most difficult to grasp what Jesus was announcing. Though they knew that Jesus was speaking metaphorically the principle of living by relying only on Jesus was for them unacceptable and they turned away.
In Hebrew thought, God was the Creator and Giver of life. The life that God gives is linked closely with the blood of all living creatures. (Leviticus 17:14) Jesus came from the Father and lived among them. It was his oneness with the Father that gave him life. Those who wanted to partake in the life of God could only do so by partaking in the life of Jesus. The manna that came down from heaven did not sustain life eternally but Jesus who came down from heaven does sustain life eternally. So John is noting three stages. God is the living God and Jesus lives because of his union with God. Jesus is similarly the living God. Those who are in relationship with Jesus receive their life from him. ( Jesus makes this clear in verse 63) It is this teaching that itself gives life. The believer’s life is reliant upon their bonding to Jesus himself. It is because of this essential bonding that so many followers could not commit to Jesus.
Jesus then challenges the twelve as they face this important question, is Jesus the life giving God? Peter speaks for all of them when he replies that what Jesus teaches brings them to eternal life. It is through those words that they have come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the one destined to save the people.
This passage from John also confronts us for it poses the question who do we understand Jesus to be. It is only when Jesus is God that the promises he gives become life giving for only as he has life in God can he share his life.
John has noted there are decisive issues here. Though it is not immediately clear that Jesus was discussing Holy Communion, yet for us it does stir the remembrance of sharing the elements in Communion. In communion we are remembering that Jesus gave up his life and then was given it back again and so now He lives eternally. Mortal flesh has taken on immortality. It is as we partake of the elements of that new life that we are refreshed in knowing that our life is linked with the life of Jesus: a life that sustains us into eternity; a life relies on the risen Jesus, a life that is sustained by faith in Jesus alone.
Prayer. Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Lord the giver of life. In your mercy you have brought us to the beginning of this new day and it will be filled with opportunities to love and serve you through ministry to others. Guide us through this day we pray that we may not miss those special times when we might be used by you to bring comfort and hope to others. Today we bring to you those that we know and love and ask that they be placed under your eternal care. Through the power of your love and through the presence of your Holy Spirit grant that all will find healing and hope. May we be faithful in our witness and fruitful in word and deed to the honour and glory of your name. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen
Collect. Lord Jesus, we have tasted, and you are good; we have seen and touched you, and your word feeds us for eternal life. Keep us close to you, trusting your promises, for you are the Holy One of God, and we can go to no other. Amen.
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