Morning Devotional

July 13, 2004

"Bread of Life (Part 3)"

by Don Emmitte

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The next morning, back across the lake, crowds began gathering on the shore, waiting to see Jesus. For they knew that he and his disciples had come over together and that the disciples had gone off in their boat, leaving him behind. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. When the crowd saw that Jesus wasn't there, nor his disciples, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him. When they arrived and found him, they asked, "Teacher, how did you get here?" Jesus replied, "The truth is, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you saw the miraculous sign. But you shouldn't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose." They replied, "What does God want us to do?" Jesus told them, "This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:22-29 NLT).

As we saw yesterday, Jesus had taken the fives loaves of bread and two fish and fed the multitudes. He was illustrating a modern example of God providing for them as he did with manna in the wilderness. The message should have been very clear. Jesus showed them that He could still provide them with all their needs. In our reading this morning the people were once more hungry. It is funny how we get hungry again and again. They came back to Jesus to see if He would meet their needs once more.

Is that so unusual today? I find that I always “need” something else. Even after a wonderful blessing of God, my list continues to grow. That is not a condemnation unless it turns us away from the one who can provide for us. That’s the whole point of Jesus’ miracle.

What do you want more of? Was there a time in your life when you were closer to God than you are right now? Do you see something others have in Christ that you would like to be a part of? Do you want more of Christ? Ask God today to give you more manna! Ask Him to fill you with His presence in such a way that others will really know that you have been with the Lord!

The people came back to Jesus because they wanted more of what He had given them. Have you got all of Jesus you can stand? If your breadbox is running on empty, ask God to fill it again with the BREAD OF LIFE. Tell Jesus you want more! In fact tell Him you want Him ALL!