Words to the People
Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
In this world we are so "physically" driven. We want what will make our physical more comfortable. We want food for our bellies (cool food); apparel for our bodies (cool apparel); and, buildings for our residence (cool buildings). We want shinny, big and fancy things. We strive to obtain them and we boast of their attainment. We post signs on our autos that say, "he who dies with the most toys, wins!!" There was no difference in Jesus day. The food was different, but still desired. The apparel strange to us, but still desired. The huts replaced houses, but the desire for them was still intense. Jesus, in the above passage begins to reshape their thinking. He gives them a better interpretation for life. He tells them that instead of seeking after material physical things, to instead, seek the things of God ... seek Jesus. He tells them that the only work they should strive to do ... the ONLY work ... is the work of Faith in Christ ... Belief. We would rather strive to earn something. We would like to know we did something and accumulated something. But, God already provided all we need, through faith, in His Son. Our "work" is belief. To most that is not a "work" at all. Yet, when you think about how hard it is to just believe instead of strive, it is a most difficult "task" to do. We ought to pursue Christ, through faith, like we would "work" for food, clothing and housing. We ought to go to work ever day in the mindset of faith toward Christ and allow Him to provide the food that satisfies and never perishes. The food soon becomes waste. The clothing becomes tattered and torn and what you just had to have becomes second hand material. The houses need repairs and grow disenchanted and too small and too plain. Jesus, remains the same. Jesus empowers and does not drain. We chase these temporal things only to see that pursuit take our life away in stress and striving. "Do not work for the food which perishes!"
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