Sharing The Bread Of Life

I just began reading Max Lucado's latest book, "Outlive Your Life - You Were Made to Make a Difference." It was one of the gifts that my son bought me for Christmas. Since I had two other books to read before getting to this one, it has taken me two months to start Lucado's book.

I really enjoy Lucado's writing style. He always places some humorous anecdotes in his books while revealing profound truth about living the Christian life that Jesus would have us live. Even though I am only on page 40, the book has already had a great impact on my life.

After reading several pages of Lucado's book, I decided to go online and read what has been published on some of my favorite blogs. However, I got that usual annoying message that my borrowed laptop was "in need of repair." I wanted to skip over that, so I clicked on the choice "start windows manually." Well, after looking at a blank dark screen (except for the tiny "Microsoft" trademark message at the bottom of the page) for fifteen minutes, I decided it might be a good idea to listen to the recommendation to start up using the repair mode. So, I shut the computer off, restarted it, and this time I clicked on the "start up repair (recommended)" icon.

After watching the repair message at work for what seemed like 15 more minutes, I clicked on the choice to "cancel repair." Well...I must have waited too long because the message I got said something like this:

"The current repair session cannot be cancelled."

Lucky for me, it only took about five more minutes for the repair to be completed. I still had a bit of trouble. My computer was supposed to restart on it's own, but nothing was happening so I shut it off myself and then restarted it.

I thought about the statement, "the current repair session cannot be cancelled" and thought of God's mercy and grace through the cross of Christ. It must have been because I was reading Max Lucado's book that I drew a parallel between the computer message and God's message to mankind.

I have often stated here at this blog that Mercy is God withholding what we do deserve, and Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve. The gospel of salvation through the cross of Christ is the world's "current repair session that cannot be cancelled."

In chapter four, Lucado shares a humorous story about going on an errand, at the request of his wife, to buy bread at the grocery store. When he gets there, he collects his favorite cereal, milk, Oreo cookies, barbecue chips (does this guy love junk food or what??) and some ice cream. He checked out and went home. His wife looks at the purchases and then asked, "where's the bread?"

Max had forgotten the big item.

"The one thing I went to get. The one essential product. I forgot the bread."

Lucado goes on to write:

Might we make the same mistake in a more critical arena? In an effort to do good, we can get distracted. We feed people. We encourage, heal, help, and serve. We address racial issues and poverty. Yet there is one duty we must fulfill. We can't forget the bread.

Peter didn't.

Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you now this. God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. (Acts 2:22-24 CEV).

[Peter] would eventually speak about poverty. The church would soon address the issues of widows, disease, and bigotry. But not yet. The first order of the church's first sermon was this: pardon for all our sins. Peter delivered the bread.

[Would] you consider the offer of Jesus? "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again" (John 6:35 NLT).

Max Lucado gives us some insight into what it takes to make bread.

The grain-to-bread process is a demanding one. The seed must be planted before it can grow. When the grain is ripe, it must be cut down and ground into flour. Before it can become bread, it must pass through the oven. Bread is the end result of planting, harvesting, and heating.

Jesus endured an identical process. He was born into this world. He was cut down, bruised, and beaten on the threshing floor of Calvary. He passed through the fire of God's wrath, for our sake. He "suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all--was put to death and then made alive--to bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18 MSG).

Bread of Life? Jesus lived up to the title. But an unopened loaf does a person no good. Have you received the bread? Have you received God's forgiveness?

What an awesome and powerful analogy!

Our God is a God of second chances! If we will simply believe that Jesus is who He said He is - the Son of God, Savior and Lord, and we confess our sins at the foot of the cross of Calvary and accept him as Lord and Savior of our lives, we will be forgiven and saved. People, make sure that you receive the Bread of Life of Christ Jesus. The ONLY Bread of Life that really matters now and will ultimately matter in eternity.

Someone very dear to me and my family passed away in January. I can't know for sure if this family member was saved, but I tried my best to witness to her over the course of 15 or more years.

I usually do not share detailed personal information at this blog, but I will state that in the eulogy that I wrote for the funeral, I was led to share the gospel of Christ for the sake of the people attending. I do not know if what I said encouraged anyone there who is not yet saved to receive the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. Perhaps a seed or two were planted. However, when someone dies we realize just how brief this life on earth truly is. The Bible tells us that "it is but a vapor" compared to eternity.

Once a Christian receives the Bread of Life, it is our duty to pass it on. Max Lucado writes:

After all, if we don't, who will? Governments don't feed the soul. The secular relief house can give a bed, a meal, and valuable counsel. But we can give much more. Not just help for this life but hope for the next.

[So] along with cups of water, plates of food, and vials of medicine, let there be the message of sins forgiven and death defeated.

Remember the bread.

The secular world climate these days reveals an open hostility towards Christianity in general, and Jesus Christ in particular. Despite the fact that believers are often ridiculed and hatred is constantly being hurled at us, we must turn our distress, sadness, and fears into boldness so that we continue to be faithful ambassadors for Christ.

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:19-21 NLT).

Hat Tip:

Max Lucado: Out Live Your Life