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 does it take to believe in God? It doesn’t happen by chance. Often, it occurs out of need or circumstance. WWII war correspondent, Ernie Pyle, famously said, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” The witness of trusted acquaintances who believe; what we read, study, stream, and think about can mold our lives. Today’s reading gives the insight: “This is the work of God that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (Vs.29)
Martin Luther’s experience led him to confess: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel….” The journey to belief in God is different for each, but somewhere along the way we come to take a leap of faith by trusting in God’s grace. The Holy Spirit calls, we surrender our lives to our Lord, and our daily walk of serving Jesus, the Bread of Life, begins. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
God of grace, I have come to understand I can’t travel life’s journey without you. Thank you for inspiring me to know Jesus, my Bread of Life, my Redeemer, my Beginning and End, my All-in-All. Amen.
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