John 6:24-35 (NRSV)
Read John 6:24-35 on biblegateway.com
Verse 24So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. Verse 25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Verse 26Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Verse 27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal."
Verse 28Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Verse 29Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." Verse 30So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Verse 31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Verse 32Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. Verse 33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." Verse 34They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Verse 35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Devotion
What must we do to perform the works of God? asked the crowd. Jesus’ answer is for those who would focus on themselves rather than on the Bread of Life. Jesus answers "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent."
Dissatisfied, they asked further, "What work are you performing?" (What short memories! Jesus had just fed the five thousand.) "How are you going to impress us? Look at what Moses did in providing manna for our people in the desert." Jesus reminds them it was not Moses who provided the manna, "but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven and gives life to the world." God’s purpose and generosity are so much larger than our limited petitions.
"Let go and Let God be God." I have found that it makes life so much more interesting and joyful.
Prayer
Jesus, You are the bread of life that only truly satisfies our hunger. We wear ourselves out working for that which only becomes obsolete, breaks, rusts or wears out. Quench our thirst for always wanting more. Bring us and your world to you. Amen.