ESOCS Devotional 31 January 2022
TEXT: JOHN 6:22-40
MEMORY VERSE: “The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone.” John 6:22 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place ”
22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except [a]that one [b]which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will [c]by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go [k]and sin no more.”
Everyone in church may claim to be born again; some may claim to be spiritual because they are prophets and prophetesses. There are others who may claim to have seen Jesus because they have been in the church for a long time. While you try to figure out the category you fall into, I would like you to answer this question sincerely: Why do you follow Jesus?
There are some who gave their lives to Jesus because they want to escape the damnation of hell; others came to Jesus just to secure a constant supply of their daily need. How about those who came to Jesus because of fame and several other categories? But I tell you, except you come to Jesus because you LOVE HIM, you LOVE what He represents, you Love His agenda and ideologies, your inheritance is very small.
While the multitude trailed Jesus and saw Him, they spoke as though they followed Him because they loved His teachings. But Jesus saw their heart and said (paraphrasing) was it not because I provided you bread the other day? They came again that He may give to them more bread. This is the state most of us are into.
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1 NLT). Paul spoke expressly that if the motive behind your action is not love, then your work is futile. Love is not just to man but also to God and His agenda. You cannot love God and hate His agenda.
The reason David received immeasurable love from God was because he loved God with all his heart, absolute love. He was ready to do anything just to please God. Here is his prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Ps. 139:23-24).
You too can make this prayer, just like David did. Correct those wrong motives that brought you to Jesus: the motives of getting rich quick, no more lack and want, the fear of death and pain etc. As much as Jesus can give you all that you desire, let it not be all the reason why you came to Jesus. Jesus wants you to lavish your love on Him much more than anything you can think of.
- Never give room for ill-conception of actions.
- Holy Ghost, possess my thoughts always. Fill my heart with good thoughts not to yield to evil in Jesus name.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Amos 9:8-15; Micah 3:5-18; John 4:25-5, 9
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ESOCS Devotional 31 January 2022
