By Cynthia Ruchti

“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29 (NIV)

Years ago if you had asked me to name my favorite kitchen cooking task, I’d have answered, “Baking bread.” A friend’s hearty wholewheat bread recipe made a heavy loaf—filling, satisfying, and a good Christmas gift for neighbors who didn’t bake their own bread.

Arepa. Brioche. Chapati. Foccacia. Injera. Matzo. Naan. Obi Non (not to be confused with Obi-Wan). Pita. Rieska. Tortillas. Wonder. Zopf.

Every culture, every region, every era’s culinary history includes some version of bread. Many of them look and taste similar, especially the flat varieties.

It’s no wonder (pardon the pun) that Jesus used a common—cross-cultural, multigenerational, multiethnic, timeless item like bread for many of His illustrations. In John 6:26–35 (NIV), shortly after the feeding of the five thousand, he makes references to himself as the Bread of Life. “You are looking for me,” he said, “not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval” (vs. 26–27).

Still confused, the crowd asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” (v. 28). Jesus gave a clear and direct response: “Believe in the one he has sent” (v. 29).

A gift of bread. The Bread of Life. The enemy of our souls is allergic to that kind of bread.

Faith Step: Try a bread from another country the next time you’re at the grocery store. As you eat it, pray for the people of that country or region.

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Taken from Mornings With Jesus 2018: Daily Encouragement For Your Soul. Click here to learn more about this title.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

We hear Jesus’s words and want to respond, but so often we feel we’re too busy, too anxious, or too heavily burdened to take hold of his invitation. Mornings with Jesus 2018, an annual, 365-day devotional, is your entrée into his world. Jesus will comfort you, and you’ll experience the delight and challenge of knowing him and living for him.

In Mornings with Jesus 2018, you can read and reflect on one all-new devotion each day that will encourage you to embrace Jesus’s love, to lay down your worries and walk with Him, and to focus on him as Redeemer, Friend, and Faithful One. Lifting up their voices in heartfelt gratitude, ten writers consider the character and teachings of Jesus and share how he enriches and empowers them daily and how he wants to do the same for you.

Every day you will enjoy a Scripture verse, reflection on Jesus’s words, and a faith step that inspires and challenges you in your daily walk of living a Christ-like life.

Cynthia Ruchti is the award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction stories as well as devotionals that are, as she puts it, “hemmed in hope.” Her books have been recognized with industry honors including Christian Retailing’s BEST awards, the Selah awards, and Publishers Weekly starred reviews. She and her husband are nestled in the heart of Wisconsin, close to their three children and five grandchildren. Cynthia serves as the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers. Her prayer is to encourage readers or attendees at her speaking events to say, “I can’t unravel. I’m hemmed in hope.” Visit her at cynthiaruchti.com.