Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father, help me live with confidence today, knowing that I am your child and that nothing can separate me from your love as I depend upon Christ. Thank you that my future is bound up in you and not in my own strength or the capricious will of some religious tyrant. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

The next day came. Some people had stayed on the other side of the lake. These people knew that Jesus did not go with his followers in the boat. The people knew that Jesus' followers had left in the boat alone. And they knew that it was the only boat that was there. But then some boats from Tiberias came. The boats landed near the place where the people had eaten {the day before}. This was where they had eaten the bread after the Lord (Jesus) gave thanks. The people saw that Jesus and his followers were not there now. So the people got into the boats and went to Capernaum. They wanted to find Jesus. The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake. They asked Jesus, "Teacher, when did you come here?" Jesus answered, "Why are you looking for me? Are you looking for me because you saw me do miracles that prove my power? No! I tell you the truth. You are looking for me because you ate the bread and you were satisfied (full). Earthly food spoils and ruins. So don't work to get that kind of food. But work to get the food that stays good always and gives you life forever. The Son of Man will give you that food. God the Father showed that he is with the Son of Man." The people asked Jesus, "What are the things God wants us to do?" Jesus answered, "The work God wants you to do is this: to believe in the One that God sent." So the people asked, "What miracle will you do to prove {that you are the One God sent}? If we can see you do a miracle, then we will believe you. What will you do? Our fathers (ancestors) ate the manna (food) God gave them in the desert. This is written in the Scriptures : 'God gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " Jesus said, "I tell you the truth. Moses was not the one that gave your people bread from heaven. But my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. What is the bread of God? God's bread is the One that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." The people said, "Sir, give us this bread always." Then Jesus said, "I am the breadthat gives life. The person that comes to me will never be hungry. The person that believes in me will never be thirsty. I told you before that you have seen me, and still you don't believe. The Father gives me my people. Every one of those people will come to me. I will always accept every person that comes to me. I came down from heaven to do what God wants me to do. I did not come to do what I want to do. I must not lose any person that God has given me. But I must raise up those people on the last day. This is what the One who sent me wants me to do. Every person that sees the Son and believes in him has life forever. I will raise up that person on the last day. This is what my Father wants."

Related Scripture Readings

So what should we say about this? If God is for us, then no person can stand against us. And God is with us. He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for us all. So with Jesus now, God will surely give us all things. Who can accuse the people that God has chosen? No one! God is the One who makes his people right. Who can say that God's people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died {for us}, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God's right side and is begging God for us. Can anything separate us from Christ's love? No! Can trouble separate us from Christ's love? No! Can problems or persecution separate us from Christ's love? No! If we have no food or clothes, will that separate us from Christ's love? No! Will danger or even death separate us from Christ's love? No! Like it is written in the Scriptures : "For you (Christ) we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed." But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us. Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not death, not life, not angels or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from God's love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You were raised from death with Christ. So try to get the things in heaven. I mean the things where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Think only about the things in heaven, not the things on earth. Your old sinful self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. Christ is your life. When he comes again, you will share in his glory.