Toil for Truth - by Ennis Smith

“Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes [in the using], but strive and work and produce rather for the [lasting] food which endures [continually] unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him.” John 6:27 (AMP)

We put so much effort into achieving perishable items. So many of us are trapped inside the rat race maze of life; working hard to sustain or add to the fleeting lifestyles we’ve developed. Jesus was speaking directly to a portion of the crowd of 5,000 men whom He’d just fed bread and fish the previous day. They came back to Him, not for His message of salvation, but for more perishable food, crossing over the Sea of Tiberius in borrowed boats to get to Him. What tenacity they’d shown, for more bread! But our Lord told them to instead focus that energy toward achieving the truth of the Gospel. 

We tend to focus too much on the things and circumstances of this world. Things of the Kingdom take a distant backseat. But Jesus tells us to flip that logic; to follow Him and strive toward the eternal truth that God offers us all. It’s really all about setting our sights not on what Jesus can give us materially, but what He can provide for our souls eternally. That’s the real truth of the Gospel. 

Ennis lives in Lincoln Park, MI with his wife and children. He is in the process of publishing his first book. Contact