God gives many promises, but many of those promises are conditional (John 6:53-54). God’s love is not a promise, for it is not conditional, but rather an eternal reality entirely dependent on nothing and no one but God Himself.

It shows a lack of maturity when hard sayings come and one is quick to turn the other way. How much better to grapple with hard sayings in a relentless pursuit of truth, and at whatever cost, even over a lifetime?

Too many people think that Christianity and the Gospel are just a matter of being saved so that we can go to Heaven when we die – which is no doubt an awesome and true reality, but it’s even more than that. It’s an everlasting summons from a decreasingly casual to an increasingly intimate relationship with the Living God, a deeper union with Him.

Just because something offends me does not necessarily mean that the other person is acting wrongly. It could be that I am wrong, or that my heart is in a wrong place, and that I am wrong to be taking offense. Offense can never be relied upon as an absolute indicator of right and wrong. Rather, in every offense, given or taken, there must be discernment. My heart must cry, “Search me O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts and cares! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the ancient way, the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) True discernment is not the searching of one’s self, but the allowing of God to search one’s self.

John 6:53 – “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” I am not inclined to believe that somebody else made these words up, hoping that people would believe Jesus said them and that they would fit with who He is. I believe the person Jesus actually spoke these words. Too many people didn’t understand them, didn’t want to hear them, took offense at them, and stopped following Him because of them for these words to be contrived by someone else. There’s nothing about the passage that leads me to think Jesus Himself didn’t say these words. The question becomes whether or not these words are true and what they really mean. If Jesus said these words and they aren’t true then I am probably justified to think He’s a little bit crazy, whether or not He’s a good person or teacher, and I can feel comfortable ceasing to follow Him or give Him attention. But if these words certainly spoken by Jesus Himself – if they are true – then that changes everything. It no longer has anything to do with who He is as a good person or a wise teacher, or even a martyr, but who He is as God and the giver of true life, even eternal.

Can I honestly say that I have experienced the life that only Jesus can give, that I have received from His fullness? (John 1:16) If not, is it worth pursuing? Can I escape the fact that, whatever discrepancies I have, the Bible asserts that Jesus has and offers me this life?

Jerry Bridges - "We need to teach grace before commitment because... grace understood and embraced will always lead to commitment. But commitment required will always lead to legalism."

Just received the Bonhoeffer biography by Metaxas... super excited

such a great week with the UD crew here. Will miss you guys. Thanks for filling me up!