Day 8: The Temptation of the Temporary

Today's reading is in John 6:26-34

In John's gospel the people who had witnessed miracles and been fed bread miraculously come looking for Jesus. Simply put: they want more. Jesus speaks truth to them:

John 6:26-29 (NIV)
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."

The truth is that the temporary needs of their lives became the sole object of seeking Jesus. But it was not those temporary needs that Jesus wanted them to see as the object of their pursuit. To believe on him was to trust him...to place their lives, their futures, their needs, wants and desires into his hands.

It's a simple prayer, but I pray it everyday: "Lord I trust you". I don't say it out of obligation, or because I am required to; but rather I say it because it is a profound expression of my need - to turn my life over to him every moment of every day. It does not relieve me from action where called for, but gives to me the hope that whatever I do he will be with me.

John 6:31-34 (NIV)
31 "Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
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."

There will always be those two realities - the temporary and the eternal. God is timeless and our lives are finite. It is our soul (and eventually) our bodies that will live on to eternity. God is the source of life...that's it.

Peace

If you're reading the Bible in a Year were finishing Joshua in 22, 23, 24.