LORD’S DAY, MARCH 5
John 6:60-66
Matthew 4:10

"… Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God,
… him only shalt thou serve."

WORLDLY MOTIVES IN FOLLOWING JESUS

John 6 records one of the most stupendous miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. He multiplied five barley loaves and two small fishes (John 6:9) to feed more than five thousand people. The next day the people who were fed continued to follow Him. Jesus knew their hearts and perceived that they were after Him because they "did eat of the loaves, and were filled" (John 6:26). Jesus then brought them to a higher level of spiritual truth. He declared to them, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). And the Jews murmured at His claim.

This passage shows that the term "disciple" in its broadest sense can even refer to unbelievers. It shows that it can refer to temporary followers of Christ as well. In Jesus’ day, some followed Him only for a time, only with a casual attachment, and when His teachings became clearer, they left Him. Their motivation was to obtain free food or to simply satisfy their curiosity. Jesus reproved them for they followed Him not because they understood the miracles which authenticated His divinity. They did not realize the spiritual significance of the miracles. Their desires were driven by the free supply of food they received. They followed Him only for what would make them healthy physically and for what would prosper them materially. Let us remember that the Lord our God should be our lone object of worship. Let us not worship the things of this world. Let us be faithful to Him as He is always faithful to us!

Did you become a disciple of Christ because of the worldly things you desire to acquire from Him? Do you follow Jesus Christ for material prosperity, or for life eternal? Dear Reader, examine your motives. If you are still following Jesus because of worldly motives, you must repent of your worldliness so that you will not find yourself leaving Jesus in the end. Do not be a Demas who forsook the Apostle Paul because he loved this present world (2 Tim 4:10)!

THOUGHT: Am I following Jesus with worldly personal motives?
PRAYER: "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him" (Ps 18:30).