Here for the food

 by David Long

Jesus fed 5000 (John 6:1-13). Those 5000 wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him king (John 6:15). Jesus and His disciples travel across the Sea of Galilee over toward Capernaum (John 6:17-21). The next day those people Jesus fed came to Capernaum seeking Jesus (John 6:22-25). Why were they seeking Jesus? "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled" (John 6:26). They were there for the food. Jesus gave them food but not the kind of food they wanted. He gave them spiritual food (John 6:63). They didn't like that so they left (John 6:66). Jesus let that whole group of people walk away. Why?  Because motive matters when following Jesus. 

What kind of soil are you?

 by David Long

"A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." (Lk. 8:5-15).

Wayside soil describes a hard heart. This is a person who completely rejects the word of God.

Rocky soil describes a shallow heart. This is a person has an emotional response to the gospel but when things get tough, they don't last. 

Thorny soil describes a crowded heart. This is person allows other things choke out the word of God in their lives. 

Good ground describes an honest and good heart. This person puts the kingdom of God first, last and always because his heart is neither impervious, nor previously committed, nor superficial. 

This is how it works

 by David Long

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me" (John 6:44-45).

How does one come to Jesus? Jesus said, "the Father draws him." How does that happen? Read the verses again. It's by hearing and learning. Hearing and learning what? The word of God. You don't come to Jesus by getting some special sign or calling. You come to Jesus by hearing and learning the word of God (Matt. 11:28-30; Rom. 10:17). This is how it works. 

Labor for it

 by David Long

"Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed" (John 6:27).

What's your chief aim in life? Is it laboring to put food on the table or to receive everlasting life? Yes, we have to work for our food but that is secondary to laboring for the meat which endures unto everlasting life. Don't put the physical before the spiritual. 

Just one way

 by David Long

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6). Is that clear enough? 

The end of slavery

 by David Long

Will slavery ever end? No. I'm not talking about physical slavery. I'm referring to spiritual slavery. 

 "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:15-23).

Slavery to sin can end when one obeys the gospel (Rom. 6:3-4; John 8:32). 

When God shuts the door

 by David Long

"And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in" (Gen. 7:15-16).

When God shut him in, He shut everyone else out!

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth t o meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 25:1-13).

One of these days God will shut the door to the kingdom and if you are not in it, you will be lost.