²⁷Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures in eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal. –John 6:27

As Jesus walked the earth, he astounded crowds of people with his incredible wisdom and actions. He fed 5,000 people with only five small loaves of bread and two fish. He walked on water. People’s minds were blown! How could this man do such incredible things?

A crowd found Jesus and greeted him, asking where he had been. Jesus’ reply tells us a great deal about their true motivation in seeking him. Jesus said to them, “Do not labor for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27).

This makes me wonder what the crowds had been indicating by their words and behavior. Was it time for lunch and they were looking for their next meal? Did they see Jesus as only a fast food option, and not as the Son of God, who came to save them from their sins?

It’s so easy to get mired down in the everyday details of life – bills to pay, meetings to attend, dinners to cook, dishes to do. We feel compelled to work hard enough not only to pay bills and keep food on the table, but also to take vacations, buy the clothing we want, and make life as comfortable as possible.

Yes, we need to provide for our basic needs. However, those “needs” can become all that we seek, leaving our time and devotion to God on the back burner. Jesus reminds us that when we seek after him, he sustains us in ways we could never imagine. What a great God we serve!

Prayer: Jesus, help me to seek you in all that I do. I pray that my words and actions would be centered in your will, and that I would share your life-giving words with others. Amen.

Contributed by Amanda Cole