LIFE IS MORE THAN FOOD
“But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you.”
John 6:27a (NLT)
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?”
Matthew 6:25 (NLT)
These verses from John 6 follow the account of Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5,000+ people after taking and blessing a boy’s five barley loaves and two fish. The large crowd had followed Him after seeing His miracles of healing the sick. They were hungry, so Jesus fed them, and they were filled.
They wanted more. They wanted to perform God’s works, too. Jesus tells the people to spend their energy seeking the eternal life He gives instead of perishable things like food. Food is perishable, but we need it to fuel our lives. Jesus is eternal, and we need Him to sustain our lives.
We seem very concerned with what we need in this physical world, including what we eat. We collect recipes, shop for groceries, prepare food, cook, bake and fry. Then we clean the dishes, put them away, and do it again the next day.
God created us to need food as fuel, giving us good food to enjoy. But we weren’t created to worry about food. In Matthew 6:25, Jesus tells us not to worry about the needs of our everyday lives…like food, drink and clothing. He is our Provider! He satisfies our hunger and thirst and clothes us in His righteousness. What are we to do instead of worrying? Believe…in Him.
When we fast, we look to Jesus as our fuel, our energy, and our sustenance. We say, Jesus, You are my life, my everything. You are all I need today.
APPLICATION: Take a few minutes to read through John 6. Make a plan to fast with the idea of God being enough.
PRAYER: Jesus, I need Your help to focus on the eternal more than the perishable. Through fasting, help me learn more and gain a new perspective. I trust You to meet all my needs and more. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?