I Want Something Better – Family Devotion – August 9, 2021

Read: John 6:24-35

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:35

I Want Something Better

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“More! . . . More!” Little Bryce didn’t know many words, but he definitely knew this one. “More! . . . More!” he kept saying every time his mother gave him another bite of that ooey-gooey, super cheesy mac ‘n cheese. Bryce’s older brother and sister couldn’t stop laughing at him.

Their mother reminded them that Bryce wasn’t the only one who always wants more. Last week Bryce’s brother cried at his birthday party because even though he got tons of presents, he didn’t get the one thing he really wanted. And Bryce’s teenage sister had a closet full of clothes, yet somehow she always complained about having nothing to wear.

But those three aren’t alone. Don’t we all do this? Kids get toys or gifts or money, and very quickly they want something bigger or better. They want more. Adults buy a new house or car or get a new phone or tablet. But soon there will be a cooler car or a fancier phone those people will want more. Despite our many blessings in this life, we seem so often to want more!

Something similar happened in the story today. Jesus had miraculously fed over 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two small fish. What a blessing! When Jesus left them, the people quickly went to find him. Not because they wanted to thank him. Not because they wanted to learn about their powerful Savior who provided for them. No, they wanted more.

Jesus pointed this out to them and taught them to look for something better. They wanted more bread or food for their stomachs. They wanted something that was for this life and that wouldn’t last. But Jesus told them to look for a “bread” that lasts. What was Jesus talking about? He told them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Jesus provided food for those people, and he provides for us today, because he loves us. He is gracious and blesses us with so many things! But each of these blessings reminds us that Jesus gives us something even better—himself. You can eat the best food ever, but you’ll still be hungry tomorrow. You can have the best phone ever, but soon it will be out of style or break or no longer work. But if you have Jesus, he will satisfy every desire. He gives forgiveness. He gives peace. He gives eternal life in heaven. Thank God for the blessings he gives you, yes even the wonderful food you eat. But always crave the food that is even better—Jesus, the Bread of Life.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for the food and many blessings you give us. Most of all, thank you for feeding us with yourself, the Bread of Life. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What is your favorite food that God gives you to eat?
• What is the best blessing that God gives to us?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Why is it that we often want “more” things in life, even though we already have so much?
• How do we feed ourselves with Jesus, the Bread of Life?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Describe how a person might act if they are “starving” for Jesus.
• Explain why having Jesus, the great blessing, helps us to be more content with our other blessings.

Hymn: CW 402:1-2 – My Faith Looks Up to Thee

My faith looks up to thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine.
Now hear me while I pray; Take all my guilt away;
Oh, let me from this day Be wholly thine!

May thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart;
My zeal inspire!
As thou hast died for me, Oh, may my love to thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!