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
I remember an old boss telling me not to settle for the "low-hanging fruit;" the tempting fruit, the easy sale, the food for today that would never be around tomorrow. My boss told me to develop relationships, think of mutual futures. "Build a life" was his business philosophy.
It wasn't the concept of the eternal, but it was the concept of the on-going. It was a concept of looking beyond the hunger in the stomach today to find a way to try to satiate a future hunger.
"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life." Jesus is not denying a need for food today, but reminds us that there is more than today. There are many tomorrows to come. Jesus invites us to come along with him, to remember that the things of this earth will fade away, but a life with God will only deepen.
Prayer
Nurturing God, we seek so many things in life. Today, let us seek you. Amen.