63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

There are opinions and there are causes. There are areas of disagreement and areas of conviction, but the one factor that brings life to faith is the Spirit. God is doing something in the hearts of people by making true disciples - true followers of Jesus Christ. There is nothing that can dissuade them. That is not the same as discouragement. Many times, there is discouragement, fear and falling, but that is not the same as falling away. The fleshly follower is here for the present and gone when the going gets tough, or there are more attractive things in the present than what they think Christ has to offer. Many have a  man-centered faith rather than a God-centered salvation. Literal bread gives physical life. Spiritual bread (Jesus) gives spiritual life. One is for the now - while the other is for all eternity.

What makes a difference between a live baby and a doll? Life. Both have arms, legs, and faces. Some dolls seem amazingly real. They can speak, wet cry and put a bottle in their mouths, but there is a world of difference as to which has life and which is like a computerized mechanism.   

You can have dead sacraments, dead Bible reading, dead prayers, dead worship, and dead churches.  These are of the flesh. Interestingly, the same words that the crowds heard were the same words that the true followers heard. It isn’t in the speaker, it is in the receiver. It is the Spirit of Jesus that brings life to these disciplines. A false disciple, or a temporary disciple wants to remain in control to his or her religious commitments. The real follower of Jesus is under the Spirit's control. Even if all leave, Peter said it well, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy one of God.”  

We cannot create a God to our liking and call that real. God creates and changes us to His liking. We do not pick and choose what is popular in the current religious scene. We are chosen by God to be faithful, enlivened and seek to live for His glory, wither it is popular or not. We do not sit and debate truth; we obey it. A true disciple is there for the long run. He does not fall away. Jesus has been gracious, loving, forgiving, patient, understanding, long-suffering, comforting, encouraging, strengthening. He is Lord.

There are many reasons people leave the faith - when they don’t have prayers answered; when Jesus doesn’t meet expectations; when others pressure them or persecute them; or when they fall into sin and feel unworthy. That is the faith of the flesh. It is for the present. The Spirit enlivens even our weak flesh because there is hope in no other. We say, “Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief.” It says, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” It says, “Into Thy hands I commit my spirit.”

It still does not quit.

Prayer:  Lord, make my heart receptive to Your Word giving me a God centered salvation.   May the Spirit of Jesus be the life in me.   

Dale