John 6:47-51
Amen, Amen, I tell you: The one who believes in me has eternal life. “I am the Bread of Life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Dear Lord Jesus,
It is through faith in you that we have eternal life. Something so simple—faith; everyone has faith in something. The world too has faith; some trust the government, others their wealth, others those close to them, and some themselves. When we drive down the road, we are confident the paint on the highway will keep the other car traveling 65 mph straight at us on its side of the road. We trust that the air we breathe will be there for our next breath (we might not even think about that.) Faith is so simple; I believe that what is said is true, and I trust it. There is no effort on my part. When my phone rings, I know nothing about the electrical engineering that went into designing my phone or how the signal is sent. But, when it rings, I answer. Usually, a computer on the other end tells me my warranty is expired.
So what should we believe in? To have eternal life, you tell us: we are to believe in you, and you alone. You tell us how we get that faith by hearing your word. Your word feeds us; there, we hear how you gave up your life by suffering and dying on the cross for the forgiveness of all mankind’s sins. You are what delivers us life; your death paid the penalty for all our sins. We have eternal life by believing in you; you sent your Spirit to us to create the faith to believe in you. Trusting in you means we simply stop rejecting this incredible gift you have given us. Our faith is then fed and strengthened by your word and sacraments. Lord, when I think about your work, it seems easier to trust than that yellow line and easier to understand than how I get the robocalls to my phone. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Jesus has made our part in eternal life only a matter of trust in him. He even begins the faith in us through his Spirit.