There are many who desire more of Jesus, but why?
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you.”
John 6v26
Jesus sees our motivations. Following the feeding of the 5000 people wanted Jesus for free food. Many want Jesus for a comfortable life or success -even success in ministry.
Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you.
John 6v27
When I focus on needs I miss the greatest prize. Jesus points us to our relationship with himself -eternal life. That is his focus. Our physical needs and success are subjects for conversation to help us develop that relationship.
They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
John 6v28
Jesus’ audience would not be deflected. They wanted the glory of God using them.
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6v29
Jesus was also determined, he is not interested in what we can do for him. He wants us to develop our relationship of faith with him.
Am I willing to be a nobody among God’s people because God’s highest aspiration for me is “only” to know him? It is easy to say yes until everything else is stripped away!
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Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash
One thought on “Why do I want Jesus?”
Thank you, Derek.
Your meditation – timely for me – reminds me of the Methodist Covenant Prayer, as below.
“A covenant with God
I am no longer my own but Yours.
Put me to what You will,
Rank me with whom You will;
Put me to doing,
Put me to suffering;
Let me be employed for You,
Or laid aside for You,
Exalted for You,
Or brought low for You;
Let me be full,
Let me be empty,
Let me have all things,
Let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
To Your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine and I am Yours. So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven.’
Amen
The Methodist Covenant Prayer
Methodists hold an annual Covenant Service, at which we celebrate all that God has done for us, and affirm that we give our lives and choices to God.
Most churches hold the service in the New Year, but some hold them in September, at the beginning of the Methodist year.
The traditional Covenant prayer (shown above) makes it very clear that this affirmation is a serious one that embraces the whole of our life, in all its parts. Most people find it quite tough to say, and really mean it. But the prayer is so central to the Christian life that other Churches have also adopted it.
In our culture we tend to prize our ability to make decisions and choose our own path in life. It can feel very hard to give that up. But this prayer is like a love poem. It is about surrendering to God in love and joy.”
The Methodist Covenant
Prayer.doc 5 Nov 2023
God bless you.