Some religious leaders were concerned about Jesus' disciples' hand-washing practices. They were concerned that they weren't following the "rules" of ceremonial law. Jesus goes deeper into their concerns. It's not about external appearances, but your inner motivations-your "heart" that is the key. Where is your "heart" these days when it comes to something bigger than hand-washing...personal anxiety?
Faithful Elijah finds himself at the end of his rope. He's had just about enough of life and asks for it to end. My guess is that you can relate and have had "just about enough" of something or someone in your life. If you haven't, you probably will get there at some point. Our God meets us in the dark and lonely times of our lives with the hope that we might never see as possible.
Bread is a foundational food the world over. Yet, as essential as bread is Jesus reminds us that food perishes. In Jesus, we are invited to so much more. As the Bread of Life, Jesus promises us sustenance for eternity.
Have you ever ended up somewhere different than where you had planned? Maybe it was a different restaurant, a different movie, or a different vacation destination than you intended. Life happens, plans change, and we carry on. How we respond when things change can make a big impact on our days, relationships, and lives.
While we were far off, the Lord brought us close. He did not just bring us close to Him, but also into a community that we get to be a part of! We are brought close to one another to show the love of Christ to a world who is watching!
Have you ever told anyone about Jesus, your faith, or your church and they seemed intrigued, but never wanted to learn more (let alone, show up)? The idea of Jesus is interesting to many of our neighbors, but often it doesn't mean they're ready to commit to being part of the family of God. We see many examples of this in the Gospels, and it might be good news for us!
What do we do when people reject us? Sometimes we try even harder to win favor. Other times we simply go away offended. Jesus is rejected in His hometown, and instead of our common responses, He finds a way to be even more gracious and opens the door to do so much more.