Today’s Scripture readings: Psalm 107 &108, Jeremiah 23:9-15, Romans 9:1-18, John 6:60-71

Today’s writer: Pamela Smith 

“. . .Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69

When I first came to Christ, halfway into my adult life, the Spirit opened my ears to hear the Word for the first time when Psalm 63 was in the Lectionary that Sunday. I read Scripture voraciously, so hungry to know God.  This verse was one of many that arrested my attention, slowed me down to a full stop to savor, ponder, and say in my heart: “Yes, yes, yes!”  Before my ears were opened, I was like the many disciples who turned away and said, “This is a hard saying: who can listen to it?” But after I heard, I could agree with Jesus without reservation or doubt, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.”  I had experienced the crashing down of worthless things built on the foundation of my own scheming. Inside the boundaries of God’s love I find safety, security, and peace. Outside the boundaries I knew striving, confusion, anxiety. Outside the boundaries I was lost; inside I am found. Some years later, many in the church questioned the hard sayings and turned away. But others, like the twelve gathered around Jesus, formed new flocks and now reside in new green pastures like Apostles. Here there is joy and fellowship beyond measure.