Dear Faith Family,
"Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me,
not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of loaves."
(John 6:26)
There is something satisfying about the Christmas season and the days of building anticipation that precedes. Even if things don't go exactly as planned or are accompanied by grief, the mere fact and sheer amount of pondering and praising the gift of God with us and for us, echoed in the affectionate wrappings under trees and in stockings, leaves us full.
Similar to those receiving the multiplied abundance from Jesus in John 6, for a moment, whether lingering or quickly passing, "you ate your fill" of the season's abundance.
And, similar to the multitudes in John's gospel, the satisfaction of a full belly, somewhat ironically, compelled us to want more, to desire again what sooner or later dissipates. And so, we go seeking, laboring, and resolving to experience again the fullness, the satisfaction of life, good.
I don't know about you, but I've often heard Jesus' words to the once satisfied and still hungering crowd as a rebuke of their shallow appetites, especially in light of Jesus' follow-up statement:
"Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." (John 6:27)
Yet, as I shared on Sunday, I no longer hear Jesus' words as rebuke but instead as revelation. Jesus is enlightening the crowd, and those of us similar to them, to the fact that our hunger for what is filling drives us. More than our observational acuity, "not because you saw signs" of the Kingdom, the desire for a satisfying life leads us, not just through life, but to Life Himself (Jn. 1:4-5), which is a good thing!
Think about it. That basic drive to satisfy your hunger is a God-crafted means not only of your physical and temporal survival but of life full and forever, i.e., eternal. What you long for leads you to the One who can give you what you desire. But, there is more to this epiphany.
While your desire for life compels you to seek Jesus, Jesus offers you more than you could ever find in your resolute labors. Jesus offers you something that is more, "food that endures," that ever-satisfies, not just momentarily fills.
"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)
As we begin a year anew, hungering for life, good; willing to labor for that which might satisfy or once before has satisfied, and making plans to do so, might we do something different. Instead of making resolutions, even good ones, might we begin the year feasting on Jesus, "the bread of life...the living bread" given "for the life of the world," including our life.
Daily, coming to Jesus, believing in Jesus with and for one another, the Church in our city, and the souls of our city are the goals of TRUE BREAD, which is our commitment to 21 days of prayer and fasting. Will you join us?
Regardless, do something different this new year. Let the longing that drives you into labor to satisfy you draw you to a place where you can receive the satisfaction you seek.
"Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things."
(Psalm 107:8-9)
Love you, faith family! God bless.