John 6 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

John 6:9

"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

Are we the boy bringing what we have to the Lord in faith, or the disciple doubting that it's enough? I have a brother-in-law that has Down’s Syndrome, and let me tell you; he is the best! He is the kind of guy you want to be around because you can just feel the joy and peace that is surrounding him! He does not hide behind his disability but serves the Lord with what he has been given and who he is created to be. He could be resentful, mad, or drowning in self-pity, but instead, he is filled with the Spirit and the joy of the Lord. He is such a blessing to me and so many. His attitude isn't one that says, "what could I possibly do," but rather one that says, "I'm all yours, Jesus, and You’re more than enough!"

Though my brother-in-law has some limitations, he doesn't limit the Spirit of God living inside of him. He, on more than one occasion, has handed me a handwritten Bible verse that spoke right into a situation or circumstance in my life. What a blessing he is. He knows that his five loaves and two fish aren't much in his hands, but when given to the King, they produce enough food to feed an army!

We can learn a lot from him; we are all disabled in some way physically, mentally, emotionally, or financially, and of course, spiritually by sin. But will we bring what we have to the King or hide behind the excuses? We were created for a purpose. Will we walk boldly into that today?

Psalm 139:15,16- My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

God bless! I love you all, but my love is flawed and His love is perfect! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

John 6:19-21

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Fear kept the disciples from welcoming and receiving Jesus into their boat, and it can keep us from welcoming and receiving Him in our lives. Fear is such a powerful weapon in the enemy's arsenal. It can paralyze us, cripple us, deter us, delay us, and even destroy us if we bow down to it and allow it to own and define us. The disciples almost missed the miracle of Christ walking on the water because of fear; that’s how powerful it is. Fear can keep us from experiencing Christ in new and intimate ways.

Think about it like this: let’s say the Lord has called us to serve in a ministry, but we’re afraid we might fail or that they might reject us. If we give in to that fear and refuse to walk through the door the Lord has opened, then not only are we being disobedient, but we are going to miss out on all the blessings and experiences the Lord has for us there. Or maybe we are afraid that God won’t forgive us and is only waiting to punish us. That fear will keep us from coming to Him and finding life and forgiveness.

I have struggled with fear at different times in my life, some rational and some very irrational, but all were sins and only kept me further from Him. Today, let’s ditch the fear and cling to our faith in Him, which will lead us and guard our hearts as we trust in Him!

Romans 8:15- So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him “Abba, Father.”

2 Timothy 1:7- For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

God bless! I love you all, but His love breaks the hold fear has upon us! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

  

 

John 6:35

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.”

Christ is the satisfier of our souls! It is He who fills us completely and never lets us run dry. Many things in this world promise fullness and fulfillment, but there is only One who can truly deliver on that promise. My life before Christ was marked by many things, and one of the most prevalent was the emptiness and loneliness inside. I have come to learn and realize that this loneliness and emptiness that lived inside of me wasn’t as much of a product of being alone physically but spiritually. My heart longed for the God who created it. It desired the One it was created for. I had no idea how much I needed and longed for Him until He brought me to Himself. And with that, He brought me a fullness in my heart that no person, no sin, no world can match.

If He did it for me, He can and will do it for you. He didn’t come that only some could be saved and filled but rather that all who turn to Him would receive this promise! He knows your past, He has seen it all, but let me encourage you in this: He knew every person and every sin before He allowed them to nail Him to the cross to pay for them! He knew, and He came anyways! Be encouraged, Christ wants you!

Romans 5:8-10- But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

God bless! I love you all, but His love always fulfills what He promises! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!

 

John 6:37

“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”   

 

Those are Jesus’ words, by the way!! What a great promise that is and something that I have to remember when I’m feeling distant or alone! Jesus says right there that if you come to Him, you are His forever! He says He will never drive you away. The King of Kings wants you, and once He has you, you are His forever!! Even when I’m feeling distant or disconnected, He is there! I may not feel Him always, but He is always there! 

 

I love when Jesus is talking about all the rooms in His Father’s house, and basically says, “Why would I lie about it?” He doesn’t need to impress us or anything. Instead, He wanted us to know that there is a place waiting with our names on it, and nothing in this world can take that away!

 

Don’t give up, because He will never give up on you!!! So, no matter where you are or what you’re going through, come to Jesus, and He will never drive you away!!!! Those are His words, not mine, so if you don’t believe me, ask Him!!!!!

 

I love you all, God bless, and Glory to God!!!!

 

 

John 6:39

“And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” 

 

This is a beautiful promise from Jesus to us! But here’s the question: Is the Resurrection of Christ an event or a lifestyle? Do we celebrate it daily or yearly? The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are what our very lives depend on, so how can we live in that victory daily? I believe we can start with a “thank You” and worshiping Him by remembering that Christ was resurrected, and one day, those of us who belong to Him will be resurrected as well!

 

And Jesus really drives this point home in the 6th chapter of John. In John 6:39, 40, 44, and 54, Jesus uses the phrase “raise them up at the last day”! It’s so important that we understand this that He uses it four times in 15 verses! He wants us to get this. He wants us to know that we are His and that death is not the end but the beginning! If He was raised, then we will be raised; if He lives, then we will live; and if He belongs to the Father, then we belong to the Father!

 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to live a resurrection lifestyle! Celebrating with thankful and grateful hearts Jesus’ resurrection and yours! Death is the ultimate weapon the enemy has against us, but Jesus says that weapon is obsolete because of Who He is and what He did!

 

1 Corinthians 15:55 - "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

 

God bless! I love you all!!! Glory, Honor, and Praise forever to God Almighty, the Resurrected Christ, and the Holy Spirit who guides us daily!!!! 

 

 

John 6:60

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 

 

Can we accept the hard times as well as the easy ones? Recently, it has been a struggle for me, whether I’m in a wilderness or it’s spiritual warfare, or maybe it’s just the cold I got, or maybe it’s all of the above. I’m not sure, but what I do know is that God is still good no matter what my circumstances or feelings.

 

But are we able to praise, accept and follow Him during these hard times? The times when it would be easier to revert to our flesh instead of walk in the Spirit. The times when you are tired, when it hurts, when you don’t understand. When those times hit, what do we do? Do we run to the Lord or to the world?

 

Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not beneficial. Diamonds are formed under pressure. Heat purifies gold, Perseverance and endurance can build characteristics of Christ in our lives! Don’t just hide from the tough times but hide yourself in Him and let Him lead you through! He is our Oasis in the deserts, our guide through the wildernesses, our Commander in the battles, and Defender in the valleys!

 

Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, David wrote Psalm 23, a psalm most of us know. But what stuck out to me this morning is that David’s life, though it was blessed, was not easy by any means. The king hunted him for years, his own children turned on him, and he spent his life in many battles, yet his heart for the Lord and his complete trust and reliance on Him is revealed here in this Psalm. Can we say the same?

 

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

 

God bless! I love you all! Glory, Honor, and Praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our Risen King, and the Spirit of Truth the Holy Spirit!