John 6: It’s Free
Read: John 6, Psalm 6
Who: Who wrote this book? Who did they write it to? What was their reason for writing?
What: What does this passage say about God, me, and my relationship with Him?
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29 (NLT)
In this chapter of John, Jesus clearly tells us that he is the son of God and he offers us eternal life. John 6:29 stood out to me today because it reminds me that God isn’t asking me to be perfect in order to receive salvation and relationship with him.
The text says that the only work required of us is to believe.
Why: Why is this truth important?
This truth is important because we often spend our time trying to figure out how to please God. We try to earn his favor and his love. However, Jesus clearly told us that there is only one thing required of us for relationship with him: belief.
We can never do enough good deeds or follow enough rules to earn God’s love. The good news is that he doesn’t ask us to earn it. He only asks us to receive it. All we have to do is believe in who he is and what he has for us
How: How would my life/character/perspective be different if I truly believed this truth?
If I truly believe that salvation comes from belief alone, my actions will be driven by my love for God, not my attempts to earn his love for me.
Prayer:
God, thank you that you are in control. If everything was up to me, my world would be in chaos, and I could never do enough to earn your love. I see again and again how fruitless my labors are when I try to do things my way on my own. Yet when I surrender to your will and believe in what you have for me, even things that don’t make sense in the moment are working together for my good.
It is beyond my comprehension, and I thank you for your deep love for me. I am so glad that I don’t have to earn your love because I could never be worthy of who you are. Thank you for your abundant grace.
Amen