“Don’t work for food that spoils, but for food that lasts forever.”

The day after Jesus fed the five thousand, the people came looking for Him again. They crossed the lake, searching everywhere. When they finally found Him, Jesus didn’t say, “I’m so glad you came back.” Instead, He looked at them and said something honest and deep:
“You’re looking for Me not because you saw a sign from God, but because you ate and got full.”

That must have surprised them. And maybe it surprises us too.

The truth is, they weren’t really looking for Jesus—they were looking for what He could do for them. They wanted more bread. More comfort. Another miracle.

And sometimes… we’re the same.

We pray, we go to church, we follow Jesus—but if we’re honest, it’s often because we want something: help with our problems, healing, peace, answers. These are not bad things. But Jesus is inviting us to something more.

He says, “Don’t chase after food that spoils. Work for the food that lasts forever.”

What He means is this: “Don’t just come to Me for what I can give you. Come to Me because you want Me. Because you love Me.”

God wants a real relationship with us—not just a one-sided one where we always ask, and He always gives. He wants our hearts.

Maybe today is a chance to stop and ask ourselves:
Why am I really following Jesus? Is it for His blessings—or because I truly want to know Him?

It’s okay if our hearts are mixed. Jesus still welcomes us. But He gently calls us to grow. To let go of selfish reasons. To love Him for who He is, not just for what He gives.

That’s how our hearts get purified—slowly, lovingly—like gold in fire. And in that process, we discover something beautiful: not just the gifts of God, but the God of the gifts.

Today, let’s seek Jesus—not just for the bread, but because He is the Bread of Life.