THANKSGIVING SEASON

                                               "THE BREAD OF LIFE"  JOHN 6:32

                                                                 Edward Proffitt, T.h. D.                                                 

There is a story about two old friends bumping into each other on the street. One of them looked furlong as if on the verge of tears. His friend asked:  What's wrong? the sad fellow said 3 weeks ago an uncle died and left me $40,000. His friend said "that is a lot of money". The sad fellow said "but wo weeks ago a cousin I nevereven knew died and left me $85,000. His friend replied "it sounds to me like you really been blessed". but the sad friend said "You don't understand, last week my great aunt passed away and I inherited almost a quarter of a million. The friend was really confused and asked "then why do you look so dejected? The sad man said , this week NOTIHNG'

I am afraid that is the trouble with receiving something on a regular basis. Even if it is a gift. we eventually come to expect it. This is what I call ENTITLEMENT MINDSENT. And I think it has infiltrated American society at almost every level. As Americans we have been blessed to live in as land of plenty. As a result we have become complacent,

so complacent that some are completely unwilling to give thanks to anyone for anything.

One of my favorite saying is ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING, and it is no different when it comes to THANKSGIVING. The attitude we carry with us through life is of supreme importance. Especially if we are to live lives that demonstrate our gratitude toward God.

In John's Gospel chapter six we see a crowd of people QUESTIONING JSUS. They want to know how He was gong to prove Himself. He had just fed 5000 plus people with a few loaves and fishes. The people had a need for physical food and Jesus realizing that met the need. Now they had followed Him all the way around the lake. Rather than

recognizing they were being offered a solution to REAL NEED, they were asking yet again to have PEREIVED NEED MET. Jesus reminds them of the importance of what He was offering them, and then continues to teach them rather than meeting their PERCEIVED NEED.

When the masses demanded food, He referred term to a  very IMPORTANT FACT pointing them to SPIRITAL FOODby teaching them about THINGS OF HEAVEN. As these Jewish listeners were trying to grasp what He was teaching   them, He makes a historical connection for them by referring to MANNA FROM HEAVEN. Manna that God provided  for the Israelites when they were 40 years in the wilderness. By doing this He is telling them, God met their needs WHEN THEY NEED IT.

Again Jesus turns The discussion of things of A SPIRITUAL NATURE. The crowds response, "Lord give us this food" (John 6:34). Jesus, to them made the SPIRITUAL CONNECTION, "I AM TE BREAD OF LIFE" (V35). With belief in Jesus They would never be hungry - AND NEITHER WILL CHRISTINS, at least never hungry in things of eternal significance.

What is sad to me, is when Christians put other needs ahead of the NEED FOR THE BREAD OF LIFE, for Jesus Christ is the REAL NEED to live a life of ETERNAL BLESSINGS., It seems to me that it is well past time for people to believe JESUS CHRIST  and all He is as  THE  BREAD OF LIFE. FROM THE TIME OF THE CROSS TO THIS DATE, WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH EVENTS, TESTIMONIS, PREACHING, WRITING TO believe in Him and all He was and is. It is well past time people to seeJesus Christ as the way to SPIITAL ACCEPTANCE, and our GRATITUDE to Him for the gifts He has already given.

Is it possible that people today are feeling UNDER OR OVERLY blessed this THANKSGIVING SADON? HE YEAR HAD BEEN extra strange. There are plenty of jobs but no eagerness to work. Street corners are filled of people (of all ages) asking forhand outs. More are depending on Politian's to take are of the multitudes than to rely on THE BREAD OF LIFE.

America use to be called the LAND OF PLENTY, that was when we were CHRISTIAN NATION. This year as we celebrate THANKGIVING lets see God for who He really is, and let us see ourselves as who we really are. WHO ARE WE??? WE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EEN BLESSED BEYOIN MEASURE. Therefore we are people who need to give thanks to the giver of al l good gifts. We have been given the BREAD OF LIFE.

                  WHAT WILL YOU GIVE THANKS FOR THIS YEAR????

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