Needy by Default
Jesus healed people who were sick and fed people who were hungry. Because of that, great crowds were following Him.
But He wanted them to know that who He was was greater than what He had to offer…
“Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'"
John 6:35 NIV
God could have hardwired us to need nothing, but instead, He made us dependent on things like food, water, oxygen, sleep, sunlight—and Him. He designed this world intentionally, with specific needs and certain limitations.
We are needy by default.
Just as food and water are essential for human life, everyday realities point us to spiritual truths…
We need Jesus even more than we need the essentials of life.
We can search for fulfillment in our work and relationships, as well as in money, fame, power, sex, achievement, and adventure. But it all results in emptiness. It’s all like chasing after the wind.
So let’s not just follow Jesus merely for what He has to offer, but for who He is. Let’s realize that this world will never satisfy, but we already have access to true nourishment.
We can come to Him to be filled because He is the bread of life.
He Won't Leave You
Do you ever feel like life has knocked the breath out of you? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s no secret that this world is full of both goodness and trouble.
King David, whose life was recorded in various parts of the Old Testament, was highly accustomed to trouble—constantly threatened by legitimate enemies and faced with the reality of impending death.
Yet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he wrote:
“The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.”
Psalm 34:19 NLT
If there’s one thing you can depend on, it’s that God is alive, active, and ever-present in your life—yes, even the hardest parts of your life.
But who is the “righteous person” David speaks of in this particular Psalm, when other parts of the Bible say things like, “no one is righteous—not even one”? (Romans 3:10, Psalm 14:3). There’s a trick to understanding this at-first-glance contradiction:
Righteousness can’t be achieved, but it ...