Scripture:
[26] 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. [27] 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.”
[28] Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
[29] Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Observation:
Most of these people were searching after Jesus for the wrong reasons. They wanted provision – the bread; They wanted an earthly king to stand up against the Romans and what better person than the one who was performing miracles.
As they are concerned about earthly provision and things, Jesus tells them they are wasting their time and effort. Material things will disappear so they should be more concerned with the food that will give them eternal life. That which can only come from Jesus Himself, the Son of Man. That is, they should be way more concerned with spiritual things than worldly things.
They still didn’t get it though. When they ask what work God requires of them to get what Jesus spoke of, He tells them simply that the only work is to believe in Him; that He was sent by God the Father; that He was sent with God the Father’s approval; that he was the Son of Man. They needed to understand that it had nothing to do with works.
Application:
First comes faith in Jesus, knowing that He is Lord, then comes the process of sanctification – becoming more pure and becoming more like Him. As our heart become more pure, our outward acts will show it. Never is it the other way around, where our acts earn our way to eternity closer to Him.
Prayer:
Lord I love you. Thank You for removing my heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh. Thank You for my salvation and for knowing that you don’t hold my past sins against me. Guide me with Your Spirit and help me to become more and more like you every passing day. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen.