Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 51, Song of Solomon 4:8-16, John 6:25-40, 1 Peter 3:8-12 John 6:25-40: Having appeared on the other side with unexpected speed, the crowd find Jesus and ask him when he came there. Jesus, not to be distracted by a simple question of geography and circumstances, gets right to the heart of the matter. They are not seeking him for true spiritual reasons, because they saw the signs, but because they had their fill of food. So often today we too “seek” God for the wrong reasons. We want him for what he can do for us, not for who he is in himself. We want the gifts, but we do not want the giver. How foolish! If the gifts—money, family, creation, art, knowledge—are glorious, how much more so must be the giver of such gifts! See the gifts as pointing to the giver, and go to the source of all bounty, the bountiful God Himself. Jesus, as the conversation progresses, utters the famous and brilliant evangelistic text: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So often people think that in order to be saved by God, they must do certain works for God: but no, the work of God is to believe in Jesus. Would you take comfort in that today, little one, that your faith—faith alone—is the sufficient means for God to save you. Then comes the even more famous statement: “I am the bread of life.” They are looking for a greater miracle than Moses and the giving of the manna to prove that Jesus is who he claims to be. But how ironic! The giving of “bread,” and the greater miracle, is right in front of them in Jesus Himself. He is the bread of life! Whoever comes to him shall never hunger, and whoever believes in him shall never thirst. Our deepest longings, our most ardent thirsts, are all intended to find their sole and sufficient satisfaction in Christ! Come to him, believe in him. When you taste his presence, you will want more and more of him, and in so tasting you will find satisfaction forever. And what promises! It is forever: The Father’s will is that Jesus would lose none that has been given to him, but raise them up on the last day. The satisfaction in Christ is fully satisfying, not only in the moment, but in the eternity. What greater gift than this could there be! Today, with all your longings and earnest desires, would you look—instead of trying to be satisfied in flesh or matter or even human relationships—to Jesus for your fulfillment? Would you look to him to fill you up? Would you look to him satisfy your deepest joys and highest passions? Would you look to him to be the sustenance of life itself—the bread of life! To receive God Centered Bible devotionals directly in your inbox, sign up here.  ]]>