Is there a restaurant that you go to for the wrong reasons? For example, do you go to International House of Pancakes for the eggs, or Waffle House for the amazing atmosphere and great tasting food? In general, I go to restaurants for the right reasons. But there is one exception: I go to Texas Roadhouse not for the steaks, but for the rolls and butter. For a season, buns were on my mind a little too much. One lonely night I thought about going there by myself just to get some. Knowing I was in a low and desperate state, I rolled my cares to Jesus, and He raised me up and spread His grace over me, giving me the strength to resist. (Why did writing that sentence make me hungry?!)
I'm sure you've heard of the story of Jesus feeding well over 5,000 people with five barley loaves and two fish. But did you catch the post-meal conversation with the ones He fed just a day after?
John 6:25-30: They (the crowd) found him on the other side of the lake and asked, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of approval." They replied, "We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?" Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent." They answered, "Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you..."
They were coming for the barley and missing out on the Bread of Life.
Right after the miracle they tried to force him to be their king. But Jesus knew they only saw him as the cook, and they just wanted to have it "their way." They thought that if they could force him on their throne in their town, they could eat filet mignon and cheddar bay biscuits whenever they wanted.
Like the crowd, we can get sidetracked into the wrong pursuits. We can miss out on what Jesus is really offering and walk away with the wrong gift. And like the crowd, we want to know what our part is, what we need to do. Jesus responds to us like He did to them, "Believe and trust that I'm enough."
Stop the scratching, clawing and climbing. I've come down to you.
Stop impressing, posturing, politicking. I can't love you anymore than I already do.
Stop going after the things that won't last, that won't fulfill. I'm the only One that will satisfy that insatiable thirst and hunger that you're experiencing.
Jesus offers us so much more than an answered prayer here and a miracle there. He offers us eternal life and a continuous, non-stop, intimate connection with Him. He's taken care of it all, and there is absolutely nothing we can do in ourselves to earn it or achieve it.
May we believe and trust that He is enough.
May we be drawn to him for the most important reasons.
And may we not miss out on what He's already given us.
I'm sure you've heard of the story of Jesus feeding well over 5,000 people with five barley loaves and two fish. But did you catch the post-meal conversation with the ones He fed just a day after?
John 6:25-30: They (the crowd) found him on the other side of the lake and asked, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of approval." They replied, "We want to perform God's works, too. What should we do?" Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent." They answered, "Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you..."
They were coming for the barley and missing out on the Bread of Life.
Right after the miracle they tried to force him to be their king. But Jesus knew they only saw him as the cook, and they just wanted to have it "their way." They thought that if they could force him on their throne in their town, they could eat filet mignon and cheddar bay biscuits whenever they wanted.
Like the crowd, we can get sidetracked into the wrong pursuits. We can miss out on what Jesus is really offering and walk away with the wrong gift. And like the crowd, we want to know what our part is, what we need to do. Jesus responds to us like He did to them, "Believe and trust that I'm enough."
Stop the scratching, clawing and climbing. I've come down to you.
Stop impressing, posturing, politicking. I can't love you anymore than I already do.
Stop going after the things that won't last, that won't fulfill. I'm the only One that will satisfy that insatiable thirst and hunger that you're experiencing.
Jesus offers us so much more than an answered prayer here and a miracle there. He offers us eternal life and a continuous, non-stop, intimate connection with Him. He's taken care of it all, and there is absolutely nothing we can do in ourselves to earn it or achieve it.
May we believe and trust that He is enough.
May we be drawn to him for the most important reasons.
And may we not miss out on what He's already given us.
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