(John 6:22-40)
What do you want from God? For what are you seeking God? You are seeking God, right? Whatever it is, it comes through Jesus Christ whom God the Father sent to earth. Food or bread is a synecdoche - a figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole. When we say "D.C." we mean America or "Moscow" we mean Russia. You're in the break room drinking a Coke, eating a donut, watching TV, listening to some music, reading the Bible, and someone asks what you're doing and you say, "I'm on my coffee break." Coffee is a synecdoche for all sorts of things. Bread is food and that is a synecdoche for that which is perishable. Food doesn't last. You eat breakfast and have to eat again at noon, then again at six, and eat a snack in the evening.
In John 6:22-40 Jesus is comparing that which is perishable to that which lasts forever. They followed Jesus to get what was perishable - bread. These were part of the 5,000 men whom Jesus fed in the desert. And He said, "You seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 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." (Jn.6:26-27) Jesus had been performing signs (miracles with a message) but Jesus said mighty miracles are not the reason you followed Me across the sea; you followed Me because you ate the food.
People spend all their energies, time, and skills pursuing that which is perishable: food, clothes, cars, houses, and adult toys. They work all week to earn enough money to eat; then they eat so they can work. That describes the lives of most of the people on earth. That's a vain life. I hope that's not you. If it is, repent!
It's not that God doesn't want you to have perishable things. In Eden He told Adam and Eve, "Of all the trees of the Garden you may freely eat." Everything was provided: food, water, ... not clothes! He did provide those later. He wants us to eat and have what is necessary for life. He wants you to have a car, a house, clothes.
But He doesn't want you to pursue them or worry over not having them or enough of them.
In Matthew 6:25-33 Jesus tells us not to worry about what we have to eat or wear. Do not worry about these things! Notice what He wants us to seek the kingdom of God, the rule of God in your life. If you seek Jesus for those things He will give them to you. It's funny, if you seek Jesus you get perishable things and eternal life. If you pursue perishable things, you may get some perishable things, but you will eventually lose them, and you will lose imperishable things, like heaven, immortal glorified body, a home in the New Jerusalem whose streets are paved with gold. Make your choice. Either pursue perishable things or imperishable things.
God wants us to have things that perish because we live in a perishable world. It's all going to pass away, burn even (1Pet.3:10). But we need to realize when we use the name Jehovah-Jireh it means God Provides. The actual name was given by Abraham, and it was this, "God will provide for Himself a lamb as a sacrifice," for sin so that his son, Isaac, could live. He provided a lamb; that la
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