The Bread of Life Revives the Spiritual Nature

[Daily Devotional]

The Bread of Life Revives the Spiritual Nature 

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof,
and not die. John 6:50. 

There is a great need of taking self in hand when we find ourselves watching
to make capital out of the missteps of a brother, a sister, or a friend.
Although we do not acknowledge that the object of defaming another is to
exalt self, self-exaltation is behind the practice of noting the
shortcomings of others. Let every soul remember it is best to be on guard,
and to make straight paths for his own feet, lest the lame . . . be turned
out of the way. None of us are in danger of being too devotional, or of
possessing too much Christlikeness of character. The remedy for unlikeness
to Christ, for giving occasion for your good to be evil spoken of, is to
live humbly, to keep looking unto Jesus in prayerful watchfulness, until
changed into the likeness of His beautiful character.

The soul cannot be satisfied with forms, maxims, and traditions. The cry of
the soul must be, give me the bread of life; lift up a full cup to my
parched, spiritual nature, that I may be revived and refreshed; but do not
intrude and interpose yourself between me and my Redeemer. Let me see Him as
my helper, as the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Thou, O Lord, must
be my helper. Thou wast wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my
iniquities, . . . and with Thy stripes I am healed. 

Christ was crucified for our sins, and was raised from the rent sepulcher
for our justification; and He proclaims in triumph, "I am the resurrection,
and the life." Jesus lives as our intercessor to plead before the Father. He
has carried the sins of the whole world, and has not made one mortal man a
sin-bearer for others. No man can bear the weight of his own sins. The
crucified One bore them all, and every soul who believes in Him shall not
perish, but have everlasting life. 

The disciples of Christ will be fitted by His grace for every trial and test
as he strives for perfection of character. By looking away from Jesus to
some other one, or to something else, he may sometimes make mistakes; but as
soon as he is warned of his danger, he again fastens his eyes upon Jesus, in
whom his hope of eternal life is centered, and he plants his feet in the
footprints of his Lord, and travels on securely. He rejoices, saying, "He is
my living intercessor before God. He prays in my behalf. He is my advocate,
and clothes me with the perfection of His own righteousness. This is all I
require to enable me to bear shame and reproach for His dear name's sake. If
he permits me to endure persecution, He will give me grace and the comfort
of His presence, so that His name shall be thereby glorified" (Review and
Herald, May 12, 1896). 

>From Lift Him Up - Page 110