Step #1: Lectio / ReadClick the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text. Step #2: Meditatio / MeditateUse the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again). "Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” What is your initial reaction when you read this? These are promising words, especially for those who cannot always count on a meal each day. Especially during Jesus's time, most people’s entire mission in life was just to put food and drink on the table. We all know that food and water are essential elements to living. According to a Google search you can only survive three days without water and three weeks without food. So like I said, these are keys to life. However, Jesus only uses the food and drink reference to Moses and their ancestors who ate manna in the desert to teach us something far greater. He is pointing to something that is even more important than having unlimited food and water. Jesus has the apostles chomping at the bit for this bread saying, “Sir, give us this bread always.” But then, Jesus throws them a major curve ball saying, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Whoa! Now that is some crazy stuff. It reminds me of a CS Lewis quote from his book Mere Christianity which says, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.” If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then you must believe all that He says, and when He says that that He is enough and that He is all we need for a fulfilled life on earth and eternal life forever, then we must believe him and run to him with all we got. Jesus is the bread of life and our life is dependent on our love and devotion to Him. I challenge you today to reread that CS Lewis quote and ask yourself a simple but profound questions: do I really believe that Jesus is who He says He is? If you do, then live your life differently as if everything depended on that truth. Step #3: Oratio / PrayThese questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today. When you read, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst,” what do you think of? Do you believe that Jesus is the bread of life? How do you see Jesus? Does your picture of Jesus match up with Jesus's words? If you believe what Jesus said is true why should you live differently? How do you need to change your life? Step #4: Contemplatio / ContemplateIn this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord. "Jesus is the Son of God." "Jesus is the bread of life." "I believe." Step #5: Actio / ActIn light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today? "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.” - C.S. Lewis Spend some time reflecting on this quote. Look at it throughout today and pray about who Jesus is. Do you fully believe He is Lord? How should that change your life? Smartphone Lock ScreenThe following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.  Today's prayer was prepared by Jen Mason, the LifeTeen Mission Trip Coordinator for group missions to Haiti.
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