Faith holds on
Therefore, many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” John 6:60
Here is another lesson in faith. After Jesus finished His flesh and blood message, many people were offended, and many stopped following Him that day. His words didn’t make sense to the crowd and so most people pretty much determined that day that they wouldn’t follow Jesus anymore.
Jesus turned to the people and asked them if they were offended. He told them that it was the Spirit of God that gives life and that His words were spirit and life, but He knew that some there did not believe His words, they were following Him because they wanted to see a sign or they just wanted to be with the crowd. They did not understand His message of faith that day.
After they left, the twelve apostles were still with Him. Then He asked them: “Do you want to leave also?” They responded with: “Where would we go; you have the words of eternal life and we believe that you are the Christ.” The apostles had followed Jesus so closely that their faith was rooted deep in His words and in the One who sent Him. Even though He instantly became unpopular, they were committed to staying with Him.
This is the point in ministry where the apostle’s faith could plainly be seen. Even though they did not understand what Jesus was saying, they still followed in faith, believing that He was the Son of God and He knew what He was doing and where He was going. These men were determined to follow Him wherever He went, even when things were not so clear.
This is where our faith needs to be today. We follow Him no matter what is happening around us. When there are storms brewing and winds blowing, things can seem foggy and hard to see where we are going or what is next for our life. By keeping our faith firmly set on Him, we will not be blown around by the tempests that we come up against. In fact, Jeremiah 17 says that when our trust is in the LORD, we will not even see when the drought comes because we will be rooted like a tree by the water’s edge.
Today I want to encourage you to first of all, not let offenses knock you off your mission and purpose. Keep your heart and your life firmly fixed on your hope and trust in your Savior, Jesus. Plant the seeds of God’s word into your heart daily to increase the Spirit of God’s power in your life. His Word is the Spirit of His life inside of us. Give God’s word the prominent place in your day and in your walk with Him. Live your life on purpose each day and when opportunities for doubts and unbelief come up, replace them quickly with the Word that you have planted. That way, no offense will have room to take root. Keep close to Him today so that you faith holds on to Him every step of the way.
Today’s Scripture reading: John 6:60-71
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?
62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.
The Daily Dose 