Greater than Sustainability

S -"I tell you for certain that everyone who has confidence in me has eternal life. I am the bread that gives life! … I am that bread from heaven! Everyone who eats it will live forever. My flesh is the life-giving bread I give to the people of this world.  … The living Father sent me, and I have life because of him. … Once again Jesus spoke to the people saying, “I am the light of the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”" John 6 & 8 TS

O -Jesus is the point of everything. He's the only point heaven is offering or making. For all humans he is the bread that gives life; the light that gives life; life which is more than mere existence. He is resurrection life. This life does more than sustain … it transforms.  The life he gives is vibrant, irrepressible, refreshing, eternal … forever life giving. 

A - There is a huge difference between something that is life sustaining and that which is life giving. Physical bread sustains our bodies but does not give us life. At some point, our bodies are no longer able to be sustained by bread.  Confidence in Jesus, i.e. the ongoing exchange with (bread) and reliance on (light) him results in life that is ever-growing and never-ending. It is irrepressible -- it cannot be contained or controlled.  It is, however, received and experienced here and hereafter. I will confidently follow him unto the life that is really life (John 5).  

P -Lord who is life,

Thank you for wanting us in your forever and ever. Thank you for loving us where we are and as we are -- and for not leaving us (merely sustaining us) there.  I am so glad to depend on you as bread and light day by day … unto the life that is really life. You lead and I'll follow.

Confident in you,

Steve