1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 min)
2) Scripture Reading - John 6:25-4025 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
30 So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a]”
32 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
30 So they asked him, “What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a]”
32 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
3) DevotionalIn this passage, the people sought after Jesus for the tangible things He could do for them - they were hungry. The day before - they experienced the miracle of the "Feeding of the Five Thousand". They associated Him with food. He met their physical needs. When He revealed Himself to be the Bread of Life, the one sent by God Himself to feed their spiritual hunger, all they could do was ask for another sign. . . another miracle, as though His Words in and of themselves were not enough.
True belief requires faith and trust, but so often, just like the people in this story, we equate it with the physical manifestations of God's care for us, and not purely on His word. We look for signs. For many, our faith goes up and down, depending upon how our life is going at the moment. If we have a job and are making money, God is good, and God cares. If we don't, we somehow equate that with God not caring, and not being a presence in our lives. If we are enjoying good health, we must be pleasing God. On the flip side, if we are sick, we must be doing something wrong. We attach God's love for us, and His desire for us to experience "eternal life" with physical pleasure and care. That's the human side of us.
True belief is trusting in His spiritual love and care for us, even when everything around us "physically" is screaming something else. True belief is learning to walk with faith and trust in the Bread of Life, the Savior of the world, allowing His Spirit to feed our spirit the true bread from heaven!
4) Questions to ConsiderIs your love for and belief in God conditional - based on whether or not He is meeting your perceived physical needs? If it is, confess it to Him - for He already knows, and ask Him to feed your soul with the spiritual food that will fill you to overflowing!
5) PrayerLord Jesus, help me to believe in your care for me, even when everything else around me says not to. Help me to allow your spiritual food to fill my soul and build up my faith and trust in You. In Jesus Name, Amen!
