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So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’  Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’  Then they said to him, ‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’ So they said to him, ‘What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? [John 6:24-30 NRSV]

Part of the crowd of 5000 that Jesus fed stayed on that side of the lake, because they thought Jesus was still there. They did not see him leave with the disciples, but he had left  by walking on the water (vv. 16-21). So they got into boats and crossed the lake to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. When they found him and asked him when he came there. Jesus did not bother to answer them but went straight to the root of their desperate pursuit saying:

“You are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”  

The NLT Bible says “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.”

When they asked what they must do to perform the works of God, Jesus pointed them to the only work of God that matters, saying,

‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’(v.29)

But then, they asked him for a sign before they believe him!

Sadly, there are many Christians today who are with Jesus not because they understand his miraculous signs; the greatest sign being his incarnation, life, death, resurrection and future return. They are simply there to be filled: filled with food, excitement, community, relationships, self-righteousness, impressing others, personal satisfaction, religiosity, family tradition, church tradition and many more! Anything but Christ and his raison d’être!  I call these belly vases, that only come to be filled; and do not digest what they get, just like belly-bottomed vases!

Jesus is telling us:

‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’

Believing in Jesus means believing he has the fullness of life (John 10:10), that the best life we can have is to obey his commands. His summary of the commands is that we love God, and love our neighbour (Mark 12:30-31).

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian Church wrote:

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

(1 Corinthians 13: 1- 4)

Paul the unpacked what he meant by love in the rest of the chapter, but one of them is:

“Love keeps no record of wrongs.”(vs. 5)

If we believe in Christ, and the Father who sent him; do we still keep record of wrongs?

Christ tells us in Matthew 6:15, “If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Do you believe this? Do you believe in Jesus? Are you a believer, or just a belly vase?

*JESUS QUOTE*

“I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you…this is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:26, 29)

*PRAYER*

Father, please help me not to follow you for that which perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life, in Jesus’ name.

*URGENT CALL*

Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!

God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.

The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.

Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.

It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”

for guidance if you want

to make that decision.

Then develop your new relationship

with God through your Quiet Time.

Then find a Bible-Believing Church

where you can Fellowship with like

minded people.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!

God richly bless you.

*EXCITING NEWS!*

Your favourite website (Testimony Devotional) is back online, and with all content intact too! 

You can read this and other uplifting articles on the *Testimony Devotional Website* at:

www.testimonydevotional.org

or

www.mytd.org.

*GRATITUDE*

We are profoundly grateful for your calls, prayers, voluntary offers of material and skills support, and all the numerous words of encouragement we received.

Please note that we have added some layers of security to the website prevent further incidents, especially when interacting with the site. Please bear with us, as we work to improve your site.

God bless you richly, and continue to pray without ceasing, and please say one for us too.