John 6:51-58 (NRSV)
Read John 6:51-58 on biblegateway.com
Verse 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." Verse 52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Verse 53So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Verse 54Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; Verse 55for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Verse 56Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Verse 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. Verse 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."
Devotion
George was chairman of the congregation when the new pastor came to town. A very small man in stature, George was the biggest man the pastor would ever know. Just before worship on the first Sunday he came to the sacristy to a very nervous young pastor and asked if it would be okay to pray "for us all."
It wasn't always easy to understand what Jesus meant when he said his flesh would feed the whole world. How could he care for a world that is so big?
George's prayers said it all. He expected all of God's gifts to be given here and now.
It is increasingly true: There is no crime in being little ... but we dare not be small with great gifts.
Prayer
Father, remind us of how big we are in your care. Amen.