Satisfied in Christ as the bread of life
Transformed by the Word
with Lyn Wake
Wycliffe Today Winter 2026
Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ John 6:35 (NIV)
Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus presented himself using seven ‘I am’ titles. With strong identification to God’s name in the Old Testament, in naming himself the ‘bread of life’, Jesus conveyed the ordinariness of his humanity to meet our physical needs, and the extraordinariness of his divinity as the only one able to satisfy our deep spiritual needs.
In the Bible, bread signifies something more than physical food. It represents our dependence on God for daily provision. Bread is also a symbol pointing to the reality that just as the body needs nourishment, so does the soul. Sharing bread is a rich concept throughout Scripture, pointing to connection and friendship. Broken bread relates to Jesus’ suffering, and our unity lived out with him.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which in Hebrew means the ‘House of Bread’. He alone can satisfy our hungry souls with the life-giving spiritual food we all crave and need to sustain life.
In this edition of Wycliffe Today, we will be inspired by several single people who have willingly gone to the nations to share Jesus as the bread of life. While the imagery of marriage can reveal union with Christ as our bridegroom, a satisfied single life, set within God’s loving family, can unveil Christ as our sufficiency. So, whether you are happy or unhappy in this season of singleness or marriage, we all share the same blessed work of satisfying our souls in Jesus as the bread of life, each and every day!
For Reflection: What’s on your ‘menu’ as you try to satisfy your inner hunger? How can you feast more fully on Jesus as the bread of life and be satisfied in him?
Be transformed by the Word as you engage with: John 6:22-59 & Psalm 90
Prayer: Jesus, as I sit at your table, teach me how to position myself to receive your daily provision and nourishment. Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love, that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days! Amen.
Transformed by the Word: Working together as one
Wycliffe Today Autumn 2026
by Lyn Wake
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NLV)
The Apostle Paul gave us a helpful image to describe Christian community. When we are united with Jesus, we acknowledge him as the rightful head and Lord of our lives. He acknowledges every person belonging to him as a beloved member of ‘his body’ on earth. This means that none of us are meant to exist with Jesus on our own. He endows spiritual gifts to every single person to play their special part in his ongoing mission. We individually work together as one in ‘member-ship’ and ‘common-unity’ with him.
I once heard a preacher describe himself as the ‘big toe’ of the body. While the congregation chuckled, he explained how God used him to bring balance to situations, and how that often involved being in dark and smelly places! Over time, God has revealed how he has created me to be a ‘ligament’ who helps bring support, connection, and healthy boundaries to the body. This knowledge continues to empower me to participate with fresh confidence.
While we acknowledge that the body of Christ on earth is still broken and imperfect, it is also incredibly beautiful, growing exponentially throughout the earth, and blessing the nations like never before! May a fuller understanding of our part within Christ’s body help us take up our own calling with the kind of courage that possesses no fear, shame, or comparison.
For reflection: Seek God for further revelation of the kind of member you are called to be within his Body.
Be transformed by the Word as you engage with: 1 Corinthians 12
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I declare you as Lord of my life and head of your body. I desire you to give me all I need to play the special part you have ordained for me in your mission. Amen.
Transformed by the Word: Beautiful feet
by Lyn Wake | Wycliffe Today Spring 2025|
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!’ – Romans 10:15 (NLT)
I must admit being drawn to images of good looking feet at the nail salon – complete with pedicured and polished toenails. But in real life, I’ve encountered some very unattractive feet, my own included.
When I first arrived in the mountains of Papua New Guinea to serve with Wycliffe, I would scrub my muddied feet each evening … to no avail. Eventually, I grew accustomed to the look of blackened heels and toenails. In fact, mud-stained feet were almost a badge of honour, as each of my family members and colleagues all faced the same dilemma.
Thankfully, as the words of the Apostle Paul and the Prophet Isaiah before him remind us, God sees beyond our muddied feet to gaze upon the posture of our hearts. Isaiah prophesied about the coming of the ‘Suffering Servant’ who would bring salvation and restoration for God’s people. We see that prophecy fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He came not as a mighty warrior or well-dressed king but as a poor and humble servant who stood in our place as a payment for our sins. His feet were disfigured, bloodied, and nail-scarred for our healing. This is the story of God’s great love for us – a story that needs to be shared.
Here at Wycliffe Australia, we are privileged to join with hundreds of other imperfect people who have made themselves – and their ‘beautiful gospel feet’ – available to God, blisters, callouses, warts and all! How beautiful are the feet of Jesus, and beautiful in his sight are the feet of those willing to follow his footsteps! These are the feet proclaiming the good news that every beloved person, in every language, desperately needs and ultimately longs for.
For reflection: Have a good, honest look at your feet as you think about the posture of your heart. Do you have the ‘beautiful feet’ the Lord is searching the earth for?
Be transformed by the Word as you engage with: Isaiah 52 and Romans 10.
Prayer: Jesus, I want feet like yours … beautiful feet that bring the message of your salvation and peaceful reign wherever you send me to walk out my one life. Amen.
Transformed by the Word: Whoever has ears to hear
by Lynda Wake | Wycliffe Today Winter 2025 Edition
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 2:7 (NIV)
Talking to God comes quite naturally for me as I ramble on about all manner of topics – both important and trivial. On the other hand, hearing God’s voice is a daily challenge – mostly because I am easily distracted and I do not always take intentional time to tune in and really listen.
Thankfully, I am coming to understand how silence can be a gift. Perhaps the still, small voice of God can only truly be heard within the realm of silence – and maybe even more so in times of ‘painful silence’.
Jesus challenged people around him about the importance of spiritual hearing. Through teachings and parables, he warned his audience to listen with ‘ears to hear’. This admonishment continues to echo throughout history to all people, across all cultures and generations: Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear! Let them listen to me, understand and obey!’
While it is true that most people are born with the privilege of physical ears to hear, having the spiritual ears to hear is another matter. It is when we intentionally attune our ears to the voice of Jesus that we begin to hear him speak to us in ways that change us and positively affect the world around us.
Friends, it is vital in these challenging days to offer our obedient attention to Jesus’ life-giving words, and to listen like our lives depend upon it – because they really do!
For reflection: Is there a way you could make more space in your schedule to silently attune your spiritual ears to listen to the voice of Jesus?
Be transformed by the Word as you engage with: John 10:1-18 and Psalm 85
Prayer: Father, I confess I don’t always look after my spiritual ears to hear your eternal words of life. Please help me make any necessary changes so I can understand more fully, and experience the joy of obeying your voice. Amen.
Transformed by the Word: Walking towards love
By Lyn Wake | Wycliffe Today Autumn 2024 Edition
‘Lord, if it’s you’, Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Matthew 14:28 – 29 (NIVUK)
Imagine the mix of confusion, fear and excitement Peter must have experienced when he saw Jesus walking on water towards him. Peter’s logic and emotions must have collided in a fierce battle as he wrestled with the impossible nature of the scene before his eyes.
How did he take that courageous first step? I believe Peter was able to move forward because he knew the voice of the one calling him. In stepping out of that boat, Peter knew he was walking towards love.
Recently, I witnessed our tiny granddaughter, Bonnie, take her very first steps. Although she only managed a couple of stumbles forward on her first attempt, we could not have been prouder. Joy beamed across her face as she took in our loving gazes and heard our many coos over all her ‘achievements’.
My son and his wife continued calling their daughter to come to them, with big sister Zahlia cheering her on. After all our encouragement, she took those first baby steps and learned to walk – all because she knew the voice of her family and that she was walking towards love.
Friends, living an abundant life in Christ begins with a first step of faith … and moves on with fresh steps of faith each day. Where are you on your faith journey? Have you heard Jesus calling you towards an impossible adventure? Have you dipped your toe into the water, but now feel unsure how to step out onto the deep waters?
The one who calls you is gazing upon you with love. He will not let you drown. May you walk towards him in love, and keep walking.
For further reflection: Can you identify anything that may be stopping you from ‘getting out of the boat’ towards Jesus and what he is calling you to?
Be transformed by the Word: Engage with Matthew 14:22–36 & Psalm 27:7–14.
Prayer: Lord, I choose to walk towards your love. Please help me take the first steps towards the adventure you are calling me to. Amen.
Thanks for your patience...