Food for the Soul

Read This Week: John 6

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed 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. For 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.” – John 6:26-29 NIV

It has been said that followers of Jesus frequently get fixated on God’s provision instead of His presence. We can get caught up in what He can do for us instead of what He is to us. We sometimes desire Him to move miraculously in one instance instead of experiencing a consistent movement of His Spirit daily. We are more susceptible to seeking His hand and what is in it than seeking His face and glory. We often want the things God can give us more than the gift and pleasure of knowing Him.

This tendency to miss Jesus because we are focused on asking Him for things we want and need is not just a modern struggle for contemporary Christians. It plagued the disciples and those who followed Christ when He was walking on the earth in the first century. John 6 contains such an example, and several passages reveal the motives of those following the Savior and His ministry at that time.

Jesus had just fed the five thousand and walked on water, two awe-inspiring, miraculous signs showcasing His deity, power, and majesty. These two things are enough to get the attention and galvanize the faith of anyone. But the Lord tells us that the disciples were not following Him because they saw the signs and came close to His presence but because they had eaten the food he provided and had their fill. He says in verse 26:

Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

In other words, Jesus admonishes them for failing to see the significance of the miracle and His person because they are satisfied by getting what they need at the moment. A Bible commentator once remarked that instead of seeing the miracle in the bread, they saw only the bread in the miracle. Their hearts were looking for a materialistic provider instead of a miracle-working Messiah. They wanted a bread that sustained physical life when they had the bread of life right in front of them that guaranteed eternal salvation.  

Jesus wanted them and wants us to crave food for the soul more than a temporary fix for our hunger. He told the disciples, Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. God doesn’t want us to pursue things that don’t matter while missing the one thing that matters for all time. He wants us to pursue food that only He can provide. The spiritual food that endures all things in this life and remains for eternity.

An intimate relationship with God embodies all we will ever need. His word, the food for the soul, is all the sustenance necessary for our spiritual walks, relationships, service, and work. May we not miss the One behind the miracles and provisions, and may we never value food more than food for the soul. And may we always see the blessing of God’s provision in our lives and worship Him for it.

5 Comments

  1. Heidi on October 7, 2022 at 5:05 pm

    Do we really know how much God’s Love surrounds us? His love is everlasting, He is right here to help us through whatever storm we are going through.
    Because we believe, we have faith, Our hope is in Jesus, Jesus is our Shepard He already knows what were going throgh, how tired we are, maybe were feeling hungry, we may not see anything happening, do know God knows and as we learn to go through everything with Him our faith gets stronger, miracles happen, we have skills that Father God has given us to use to help us and to help others.

    God is saying to me and you you don’t have to worry or be afraid because I Am with you. I love you, I have a purpose for you and it’s good all you have to do is follow me. my Love is strong in all that your going through good and the bad, all you have have to do is look to me to feed you spiritually, come to me first and I will give you what you need.
    You are mine and in the middle of the storm My Love surrounds you. All you have to do is do everything with Me.

    Thank you Father God for all Your Love it’s forever and ever.

    Eye of the Storm
    Song by Ryan Stevenson

    In the eye of the storm
    You remain in control
    And in the middle of the war
    You guard my soul
    You alone are the anchor
    When my sails are torn
    Your love surrounds me
    In the eye of the storm
    When the solid ground is falling out from underneath my feet
    Between the black skies and my red eyes, I can barely see
    When I realize I’ve been sold out by my friends and my family
    I can feel the rain reminding me
    In the eye of the storm, You remain in control
    In the middle of the war, You guard my soul
    You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
    Your love surrounds me
    In the eye of the storm
    Mmm, when my hopes and dreams are far from me
    And I’m runnin’ out of faith
    I see the future I pictured slowly fade away
    And when the tears of pain and heartache
    Are pouring down my face
    I find my peace in Jesus’ name
    In the eye of the storm (yeah, yeah)
    You remain in control (yes you do, Lord)
    In the middle of the war
    You guard my soul
    You alone are the anchor
    When my sails are torn
    Your love surrounds me (Your love surrounds me)
    In the eye of the storm (in the eye of the storm)
    When the test comes in and the doctor says
    I’ve only got a few months left
    It’s like a bitter pill I’m swallowing
    I can barely take a breath
    And when addiction steals my baby girl
    And there’s nothing I can do
    My only hope is to trust You
    I trust You, Lord
    In the eye of the storm (yeah, yeah)
    You remain in control
    In the middle of the war (middle of the war)
    You guard my soul (yeah)
    You alone are the anchor
    When my sails are torn
    Your love surrounds me (yeah)
    In the eye of the storm
    You remain in control (yes you do, Lord)
    In the middle of the war (in the middle of the war)
    You guard my soul
    You alone are the anchor
    When my sails are torn
    Your love surrounds me
    In the eye of the storm
    Oh, in the eye of
    Lord, in the eye of the storm
    I know You’re watching me, yeah
    Ay
    When the storm is raging (when the storm is raging)
    And my hope is gone (and my hope is gone, Lord)
    When my flesh is failing
    You’re still holding on, oh whoa
    When the storm is raging (the storm is raging)
    And my hope is gone (and all my hope is gone)
    When my flesh is failing (my flesh is failing)
    You’re still holding on, ooh
    When the storm is raging (when the storm is raging)
    And my hope is gone (and my hope is gone)
    Even when my flesh is failing (flesh is failing)
    You’re still holding on, holding on
    The Lord is my Shepherd
    I have all that I need
    He lets me rest in green meadows
    He leads me beside peaceful streams
    He renews my strength
    He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His Name
    Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid
    For You are close beside me

  2. Alma on October 8, 2022 at 10:13 pm

    This week I got a song in John chapter 6
    Believe
    We believe we believe we are believers of the Lord trusting Relying listening to our Lord he is our comfort he is the truth his love is overwhelming our Lord will guide us through his Spirit His spirit lives within us his Spirit lives within us His spirit will fill us up He gives us our strength hope and comforts us through all things we believe we believe we are believers of the Lord amen

    This week I got my song through the message. Always know his spirit lives in us. He is the Truth. Thank you Lord

  3. reachchurch on October 9, 2022 at 12:25 pm

    This Week in the Life: John 6

    For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, then the message, and then the second song.

    1. Sunday Worship: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1009-Worship1.wav
    2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1009-Message.wav
    3. Sunday Worship: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-1009-Worship2.wav

    Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect

  4. Javaid Ahmed on October 12, 2022 at 11:42 am

    God drew my attention to John 6 Verse 28:

    John 6 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

    What God said to me about this is “When you ask of what you need to do to be in my grace and become closer to me it is important that you intend to follow through. If you choose what you want to do or if what you need to do is not an easy task then you aren’t really asking honestly are you? I will always guide you my son, but it is up to you to open your heart, your mind, your sight and hearing to my guidance.”

    This to me means everything. Its up to us to act in word and in deed with God. When we ask Him for guidance and what we need to do, it is important that we follow through and take what He says as instruction and not just suggestion. Otherwise when we ask for guidance, if we don’t plan on following through if it doesn’t suit what we want, then we are disingenuous for doing so.

  5. Lori on October 16, 2022 at 12:20 pm

    As God’s children, he is with us daily. We are never alone and God knows what’s in our hearts. He works to provide for us. Sometimes we might not see it right away, but be patient. With all the responsibilities of today’s world it can make us tired and weary. Know that God is there and things will come to light. Patience. Thank you God for all your love and watching over us.

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