Just Believe

“When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You get here?’ Jesus answered, ‘I assure you: You are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal of approval on Him.’ ‘What can we do to perform the works of God?’ they asked. Jesus replied, ‘This is the work of God – that you believe in the One He has sent.’ “What sign then are You going to do so we may see and believe You?” they asked. ‘What are You going to perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” Jesus said to them, ‘I assure you: Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the real bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:25-33  Many of you think, or have even asked this question, “What can I do for You Jesus?” And we strive to find that niche, that thing, that place where we can be of some good use. But listen to the words of our Lord, as to what His work is: “THAT YOU BELIEVE IN THE ONE HE HAS SENT.”  It takes so much effort, yet, in reality very little effort to believe in Jesus. A child believes without having to prove his belief. And we  are to have a child-like faith that believes Jesus is our Lord. He is the One who was sent from heaven to be raised like a man, to endure the hardships of man, and yet be obedient to the Father. He did that so that He might become the sacrificial Lamb, who was without blemish. He would give Himself as the payment for our sins, and He asks nothing of us but to believe. But something happens to us when we honestly believe. We are filled with His Spirit, who guides us, and turns us around when we make wrong decisions. He fills us with peace for the obedience observed in persecution and trials. His presence never waivers. Yet we are the ones who waiver; we are the ones who wonder where He is because He has not kept us from the things we think we shouldn’t have to endure. But are we better than the Son? Shouldn’t we endure hardships and trials like Him?  Doing is not necessarily believing, but believing is being like the One we want to emulate, the One who gives us strength for the journey no matter where it takes us.  This is the work of God! Our hearts are filled with love and praise for being considered worthy of God’s love, and the assurance that He will keep us until that day, when we are together with Him. I long for that day, yet it will not occupy my mind, for the joy that is felt with every breath, allows us all one more opportunity to be a breath of life for another. This is the food that lasts for eternal life. Pastor Andy