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Reflections
A Crossroads Church Devotional
September 13, 2011
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For What Am I Laboring?
John 6:16-34
[16] When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, [17] got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. [18] The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. [19] When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. [20] But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." [21] Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. [22] On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. [23] Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. [24] So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. [25] When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" [26] Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. [27] Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." [28] Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" [29] Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." [30] So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? [32] Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father 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] They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."
- John 6:16-34 (ESV)
Following the feeding of the 5000, Jesus begins to move those who are following Him toward a new reality. Many are following for the provision, some follow because they genuinely like Jesus, but few (if any) are following Him because they understand who He is.
In this passage, Jesus challenges the crowd who follows him to cease laboring for things that perish. Now, for you and I looking at this passage in hind site, we understand what Jesus is saying to these people. In fact, Jesus himself tells them that the reason they are still following him is because of the food that he had provided during their time of hunger.
For what things are you and I laboring that will perish? Brother and Sister, it does not have to be food, materialism, popularity or any of the obvious things that appeases the flesh. You and I can be laboring for what we view to be Kingdom related things and still have no heart for the King. Remember, Jesus is telling those who would listen that many worship with their lips, but their hearts are FAR from Him.
Let us not be deceived by thinking things with a Christian or church seal is any less fleshly or carnal than the person laboring for the obvious. All of it will perish. Jesus tells those here to labor for that eternal thing which is HIM. He is the eternal bread, the reason for all of our labor.
The crowd will conclude this passage of scriptures by asking Jesus to give them this eternal bread. But if you read further (next devotional), you will find that the price tag for receiving the bread of life for many becomes too great.
Brother and Sister, may we be free from confusing what we do for God as being the bread from heaven. Lord, forgive us that what we do for you satisfies our hunger. May we dine and partake of the Lord who is the True Bread as we commune daily with Him.
- Written by Steve Shives |
