"When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[a]” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 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 6:25-35
These people were following Jesus because they wanted more bread. They wanted to be entertained. Keeping a people fed and entertained will keep them in a stupor. But we are to be different than that, and that is what Thanksgiving is for --
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100
Four applications to live a Thankful life:
1. Worship:
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs." Psalm 100:1-2
"28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”" Hebrews 12:28-29
"I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30
"I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever." Psalm 86:12
Find a psalm and pray it this week.
2. Know God!
"Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3
"Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." Colossians 3:16
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
3. Relationship -- Knowing God!
"The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him." Psalm 28:7
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2
God wants us!
4. Proclamation!
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:4-5
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”" Acts 20:35