Bread

Bread is abundantly found in the Bible, both literally and figuratively. In two stories Jesus feeds crowds of thousands with a small amount of fish and bread. When Jesus is tempted in the Wilderness to turn stones into bread He says that "Man does not live on bread alone." In the Gospel of John Jesus says that He is the bread of life, and all who come to Him will not hunger. Over and over we see bread.

There is one verse in Ecclesiastes that I thought of yesterday when I opened the bag. Ecclesiastes 11.1 says, "Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days." This verse talks about taking risks in life when opportunities present themselves to us. We must have a spirit of trust and adventure, a willingness to do something not just sit by and let life pass us by.

As I write this I think about witnessing. On Sunday night we are studying the Spiritual disciplines, last night was evangelism. One reason people don't evangelise is fear of rejection, and feeling unprepared to handle difficult questions. We should be prepared to talk about our faith, and all Christians should be able to talk about what Jesus does because He has done it in their own life.

The thing to remember with evangelism is that the results aren't up to us. If the person rejects our message we have no control over that, it's all up to God. The fruit of evangelism depends upon God. We are simply responsible to share the message of love and forgiveness in Christ. The results are up to God.

We must share the good news of Jesus. One of my professors in college told us to make sure we always preached the Bible, because when the word of God is proclaimed things happen. Isaiah 55.11 says, "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

The Bible is truth, it is the word of life, it is bread for the hungry soul. Cast it out over the water, seize the moments that come to share it, and watch God work. His word will not return empty.

Peace be with you