January 10

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother see know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48 I am that bread of life.

49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

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

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52 The Jews therefore strove among them.

selves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no lie in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelteth in me, and I in him. 57 At the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

Christ is that undiminishing loaf of heaven and earth—the "bread of life"—the joy, the satisfaction, the strength of all God's people.

"Jesus says, 'Come, eat of My bread.' One is utterly ashamed that it should ever be an effort to obey this loving invitation. How weak we are! But His hand touches us, and He says, 'Arise, and eat.' May He open our eyes to see and rejoice in the provision so close beside us, the feast that He has made for us. Not only His word, but the happy doing of His will shall be our meat, and we shall 'afterward eat of the holy things, because it is His food.' He will give us to eat of the tree of life and of the hidden manna." —F. R. Havergal.

We need daily this living Bread. There are fanatics who teach that we may get beyond the Blood, the Word, and the Spirit. No wonder that under such teaching persons make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. No wonder that scandals arise in such circles. Our safety lies in keeping moment by moment "under the blood;" feeding day by day upon the word—the "bread of life;" and being ever under the Spirit's guidance.

Closet Promise. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.—Matt. v. 6.

Let my hungry soul be fed On Thee, Lord, of Life the Bread! Let me quench my thirst in Thee, Love's immeasurable sea! Let Thy love so constant shine In this heart and soul of mine,

That, completely lest in Thee, As a rainsleep in the sea, I may feel, and act, and will Just as Thou my being fill! —A. Gibbs Campbell.