The Work of God

This devotional considers John 6:25-33 (John 14:11; Matthew 6:26).

Jesus spoke to some people who were among the five thousand he fed. He said you are looking for me not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. They probably had never been so satisfied after eating and they wanted more.

In saying this, Jesus made a distinction between seeking him for a sign and seeking him for provision. Why? At another time, Jesus said, Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Jesus wants us to understand and believe that he comes from God. But, most of us will not believe without God moving in a powerful way. 

Provision of something like food is generally a common grace that doesn’t require faith in God. Whether you accept Christ or not, food is available. As Jesus said, Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

A sign, though, is God’s particular demonstration of his power that points us to him. Miraculous provision points us to the Provider. Miraculous healing points us to the Healer. Miraculous deliverance points us to the Savior. The signs Jesus performed were for faith in him who comes from the Father. He wants us to seek to have faith in him through his works in our lives, and then when faith comes, we can let go of always looking for a sign because we would have already been convinced that before Abraham was, Jesus is.

The problem we often run into is our longing for the product of a sign. The food, clothes, money, opportunity and other things. The Lord doesn’t want us to work for, to pursue bread that spoils. Jesus is the only one who can give us what we need in ways that are fully satisfying because he is the true bread from Heaven. We are challenged to look beyond the perishable to the imperishable. He said, Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the son of man will give you...The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent. 

When we believe…how our eyes are opened…what access we have…how our desires and priorities change. Imagine what the Lord can do with our lives when we stop doubting and being fearful and truly believe that Jesus is the bread of life.

Amen.