Daily Devotional
A Deeper Hunger in Our Hearts
“And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You come here?’ Jesus answered them and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.’”
John 6:25-27
December 9, 2022
Ponder This
On one of my trips to Israel, I knew we were going to go to the spot where Jesus fed the five thousand, so I thought I would make it memorable. I asked my guide, “Would you do me a favor? I want you to get me some loaves of bread and some fish and put them in a paper sack and bring it with you. When we get to this spot, I'm going to let everybody have a taste of the fish, and everybody a taste of the bread, and it’ll just remind us of the miracle that Jesus performed right at that spot.” The trip required a boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. The water was a little rough and the heat was extreme, and the people the night before had a big Arabic meal with many things they had never eaten before. It is safe to say that not many people had an appetite. When we arrived at the spot, I said, “Now it's time for the loaves and the fish.” I brought out the fish and unwrapped the bread. It was so hot, and after a trip on rough water, one of the men with us looked at the loaves and the fish and said, “If everybody feels like I do, you can feed five thousand with that."
When I thought about that, I realized there comes a time in our lives when the things of this world do not satisfy us. We want something more. And sometimes we just get fed up with the things of this world. Why is that? Because there is a deeper hunger in our hearts.
- Think of a moment when you tried something for the first time. Why did you try it? What were you looking to get out of it?
- Have you ever “wasted” your free time doing an activity you thought would bring you joy but didn’t? Why didn’t it bring you joy?
Practice This
Make a list of things that make you feel satisfied (compliments, completing a job, etc.). Thank God for how these little moments point to a deeper, greater reality in which we receive true satisfaction in Christ.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
