R³ Devotional - Day 291

John chapter 6 is a pivotal passage, beginning with the miracle of feeding the 5,000 and culminating in Jesus' powerful and challenging teaching: "I am the bread of life." This chapter invites us to look beyond temporary fixes and find our ultimate sustenance and satisfaction in Jesus Christ alone.

REAL Principle: Seek Spiritual Sustenance over Physical Provision

John 6:26-27, 35
 "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. Do not work 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.”... Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

The crowd followed Jesus because he had filled their stomachs. Jesus recognized their shallow motives and corrected them. He urged them to stop focusing their effort on "food that perishes"—the things of this world—and to pursue the "food that endures to eternal life," which is Himself. Physical food only satisfies for a moment, but Jesus offers a spiritual life that is enduring and completely satisfying.

RELEVANT Application:

•  Examine Your Motivation: What is the primary reason you seek after Jesus? Is it for His blessings (financial, health, comfort, etc.)—the "loaves and fishes"—or is it for the eternal life and true satisfaction that comes from a deeper relationship with Him?

•  Prioritize the Spiritual over the Temporary: Re-evaluate how you spend your time and resources. Dedicate quality time to prayer and Bible study, which are ways we "feed" on the Bread of Life. If you find yourself "working" harder for an extra paycheck or temporary pleasure than for spiritual growth, it's time to shift your focus to the things that truly endure.

REAL Principle: Faith is the Work that Leads to Eternal Life. John 6:28-29, 40

So they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”... For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

The crowd, thinking in terms of religious obligations, asked what "works" they needed to do to earn God's favor. Jesus' answer is striking: the one work God requires is belief in Him whom God has sent. This highlights that salvation is not a reward for human effort, but a gift received through trust and reliance on Jesus. "Belief" means a complete and total surrender and dependence on Jesus for everything.

RELEVANT Application:

• Rest in God's Work: Stop trying to earn God's love and acceptance through your performance, good deeds, or religious practices. Recognize that belief—trusting in Jesus' completed work on the cross—is the single "work" that connects you to eternal life.

•  Deepen Your Trust: Faith is not a one-time decision; it is a continuous relationship. When faced with a trial, a temptation, or an uncertain future, actively choose to place your confidence in Jesus. Say to yourself, "The work is to believe," and surrender your anxieties and plans to His will, finding your security in His promise of eternal life.

READY: What is God asking of you?