“Chewing” on Jesus

Brian and I were in Israel last November and I saw many of the places where Jesus was when He was on this earth. I saw where He was born, where He grew up in Nazareth, where He helped Peter on the Sea of Galilee. “He was here” is what I kept telling myself. I’m actually walking in the same places Jesus once walked. After seeing one of the believed sites where Jesus was crucified and where his body was buried, we saw the words, “He is not here for He has risen!” We then proceeded to a small chapel to have communion and sing praises to our God. It was very moving to think through communion after seeing these sites.

I was at a ladies’ retreat this fall and we were asked to come to the front to take communion. I knew both of the ladies holding the bread and the juice. As I approached the first lady, I noticed that this was no ordinary bread; this was a thick piece of sweet cornbread. I was definitely back in the South! I thought for sure part of it would fall off as I picked it up, but it was genuinely a big piece of bread.

“This is the body of our Lord, broken for you, Susan”, she said as I picked it up. When she said my name with those words, it was like I had been struck by the very nailed used for Jesus. As if that weren’t enough, I went to dip my bread in the cup and I heard, “This is the blood of Christ shed for you, Susan.” I put the bread into my mouth and I literally felt sick. What Jesus did for me was way too real.

Turning to go back to my seat, I began to choke. There was so much bread and so little juice. I saw all the women who had gone before me sitting in their seats still chewing on their big piece of bread. It was a bit uncomfortable.

I was overcome by the presence of the Lord and felt in my heart Him saying to me, “I’m not always an easy One to swallow. The bread on most Sundays might dissolve easily in your mouth, but I’m not meant to be dissolved away in your life. No, I desire to get stuck in your teeth like this bread. I want to be present with you for more than a mere chew and swallow. I want you to think about me more than a quick second. I want to be present in your everyday comings and goings. Let go of the everyday and mundane ‘chewing’ of life’s activities and let me take control. I am enough. I desire you and I want you to desire Me. I am HERE!”

© 2015 Susan M. Sims

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2 Comments on “Chewing” on Jesus

  1. A different approach. What God uses to remind us of a truth. Good
    job, Susan. Look forward to your writing each week!

  2. Great picture! I am reminded every day that he is not there but he is in me everywhere i spread his word.

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