March 10 "Open Windows" by T. Austin Sparks
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Whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst. (John 6:35 ESV)
I am the bread of life (John 6:35). I am the light of the world (John 8:12). I am the good shepherd (John 10:14). I am the true vine (John 15:1). I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). Here is the great I AM saying what He is. And then you notice how frequently He links with that a shall. The shalls of the I am's in Johns Gospel are tremendously impressive - not always using the exact word, but in the context you will find the same conclusion. But here are some of the shalls. I am the bread of life... he that eats this bread shall live for ever (John 6:58). I am the light of the world; he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness (John 8:12). The link between what He is and ourselves is this, he that believeth on Me. What I AM shall become true of him. He that believeth on Me shall never die (John 11:26), ...shall not hunger (John 6:35), shall never wander like sheep without a shepherd, he shall have a governing, controlling reality like a shepherd in his life. Shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. What I AM shall become true. I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth on Me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever lives and believes on Me shall never die. What I AM is made good when you believe.
Now it is not what we are. I am dead; He is alive. I can never be other than dead, but He as the Life can become Life in me in my death, if only I believe. I am hungry, spiritually starved; He is Bread, and I need never hunger; although I shall always hunger in myself, yet He will become the Bread to supply me. Think of it! I need never hunger, I am down there in the country, isolated, getting no fellowship, no food; I am away in some place where there is no spiritual bread, and He says, He that eats Me shall never hunger. Is that dependent upon where I am, what my situation and circumstances are as to available spiritual meat? No, it is Himself, not a place; it is Himself, not circumstances. But how can it be? - He that believes.
By T. Austin-Sparks from: Features Of Zion - Chapter 4
_________________ Mike
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