BREAD OF HEAVEN

John 6:24-29
"Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, Rabbi, when did you get here? Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval. Then they asked Him, What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered, The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent."

The crowd was after physical gratification. They were right to look to Jesus but in their motives they missed the mark. They were interested in loaves and fishes when they were being offered food that would last for eternity. They wanted physical food but overlooked the true Manna, Jesus, the bread of heaven.

I do this. I want to know what God requires but not so that I may achieve the spiritual blessing that God intends but because I am after a natural blessing for the here and now. Jesus response to the crowd's questions was this: the work that God requires is this: BELIEVE JESUS.

When our motive is right, we do not have to worry about the natural provision. We will be fed and clothed; we will have what we need when we need it. We can believe Jesus! We can trust Him! HE is our provision. HE is our food. HE is our reward, our manna, our sustenance.

Why did the crowd miss the spiritual opportunity that was right in front of them? Why do we often miss it? Because: we are more tuned to our physical desires than to our spiritual pangs of hunger. How do we get skinny? We discipline ourselves to ignore our body's cries for food. How did we arrive at this state of spiritual malnourishment? We have trained ourselves to ignore our spirit's yearnings.

God has prepared a spiritual feast for us. He has given us the body and blood of His own Son as our eternal provision: our BREAD OF HEAVEN.

Am I motivated by what I think I need in the natural? Is this the real reason that I am asking "What does God require?" Are my prayers about financial needs, physical food and earthly obstacles? Am I even hungry for spiritual food? Am I tuned to my spirit's hunger pangs? Do I cry out for the reconciliation of the lost? Am I praying for opportunities to do the "work" which is to BELIEVE JESUS? What spiritual obstacles am I praying about?

Lord, change our hearts that our motives will be about your heavenly business rather than our earthly desires.