A living house.

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35, 41-51

ADMONISHING THOSE WHO search for reasons to dismiss him ("Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"), Jesus returns to the real issue--faith--stating simply that "whoever believes has eternal life" (John 6:47).

Careful consideration of Jesus' words is important, however, for taking Jesus' body into our own has profound implications. Where will God lead us? As writer C.S. Lewis described it in Mere Christianity, our acceptance of Jesus as the bread of life has permanent consequences that can take us beyond what we expect, or are prepared for: "Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you understand what [God] is doing. [God] is getting the drains right, and stopping the leaks in the roof.... But presently [God] starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably, and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is [God] up to?.... You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage, but [God] is building a palace. [God] intends to come and live in it."

With our faith in Christ as our sustenance, we realize that the only preparation we need is faith enough to let go and enough faith to welcome a guest.