It’s easy for Christians to fall into a rut: Church is a thing you do, prayer is a box to check, and faith seems far from “the real world.” This fall we let Jesus himself confront our ruts. “Do you believe this?” he asks (Jn. 11:26).
To believe in Jesus is to experience him. It’s more than logic, argument, and doctrine. It is intimate knowledge of God himself. This fall, let Jesus himself speak to you in his seven “I AM” statements in the gospel of John. How is he changing you? What response is he inspiring in you? To believe in him changes everything.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Ponder:
Today we ponder the I AM statement: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” What things does our world hunger and thirst for? What longings do you have in your life right now? Ponder how Jesus is the Bread of Life, and how he satisfies all our unmet longing.
Word
John 6:28-29
“Then they said to him, ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’”
Meditation: Hunger by Jo Saleska Lange
I am always hungry. As a work-from-home mom with two little ones, it’s nearly impossible to find time to sit down for a proper meal, so I snack all day instead. Between playtime and nursing and freelance projects, I sneak into the kitchen to scarf down handfuls of granola or chocolate chips, a few strawberries dipped in yogurt, a half-eaten sandwich from my toddler’s lunch. Not enough to fully satiate my hunger, but enough, at least, to keep my blood sugar from crashing.
My hunger extends to other aspects of my life, too. No matter what I do or own, I always seem to hunger for something else—something more. For a while, I thought that if I could only get one of my short stories published, I’d feel fulfilled. For years, I wrote and revised dozens of stories, sought feedback, submitted to publications, received rejections, revised again. When a story of mine was finally accepted for publication in a literary journal, I felt satisfied for a few months. But the hunger came right back. I wanted more: more publications, more prestigious journals, more recognition.
I fall into this trap often. I think if I only have [fill in the blank], I’ll finally feel satisfied. So I work and work to achieve that thing—but, like grazing my way through the kitchen, true satisfaction never comes.
I can relate to the crowd that follows Jesus in John 6. Like me, they are always hungry. Earlier, Jesus had miraculously filled their bellies with just a few loaves of bread and fish. But they want more. Jesus calls them out: “You are seeking me … because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you” (v. 26-27).
The people want this eternal food, this eternal satisfaction. And, also like me, they assume they must work to get it: “What must we do” they ask, “to be doing the works of God?” (v. 28)
Jesus upends their expectations. The eternal satisfaction he offers requires no work. It is a gift, given freely. “This is the work of God,” he says, “that you believe in him who he has sent … I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (v. 29, 35).
What earthly desire do you hunger for today? How might you fill your plate with Christ instead?
Heavenly Father, thank you for offering true satisfaction in your Son, Jesus, our Bread of Life. Help us to stop striving for food that perishes, and to instead make time to consume your Word.
Prayer
Jesus, you said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” In this world, I am always longing for more. Satisfy my deepest hunger, not only for physical nourishment. I long to be fulfilled and joyful. I find that only in you. So be the true bread of my life, and fill me up. Amen.
Benediction
May the grace of the Lord Jesus sanctify us and keep us from all evil; may he drive far from us all hurtful things; may he bind us to himself by the bond of love, and may his peace abound in our hearts. Amen.