Labouring for the Everlasting Bread That Gives Life and Rest

 

In our journey of faith, we are called to seek something deeper than physical sustenance or temporary satisfaction. Jesus spoke of a different kind of bread—a "bread of life" that leads to eternal rest. This bread is what we must labor for, not just to feed our bodies, but to nourish our spirits. In John 6:27, Jesus instructs us, "Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you." In this blog, we will explore what it means to labor for this bread and enter the true rest that comes from faith in God’s Word.

Labouring for the Bread of Life

The bread of life, Jesus tells us, is the Word of God that sustains us eternally. Just as we need daily nourishment for our bodies, our spirits require the life-giving power of God's Word. But obtaining this spiritual bread requires a kind of labor—not physical, but spiritual. It requires a heart that seeks, a mind that meditates, and a spirit that yearns for God.

When we dedicate time to studying, meditating on, and receiving God's Word, we are laboring for the bread that endures to eternal life. Hebrews 4:11 calls us to labor to enter God’s rest, saying, "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience." This “rest” is not about inactivity, but about a faith-filled alignment with God’s promises and surrendering our efforts in favor of His Word and Spirit.

Entering God’s Rest Through Faith

The concept of rest is central to the Christian life. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus extends an invitation: “Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” This rest is found only in Christ. It is a state of peace, where we cease striving in our own strength and rely instead on God's promises. 

Hebrews 4:3 says, *"For we who have believed enter that rest."* Those who trust in the finished work of Christ, who rely on the promises of God, and who live by His Word, enter a profound rest. This rest is an assurance that we are upheld by God's power, not by our own efforts. As we continue to meditate on God’s Word and worship Him through thanksgiving, we walk daily in this rest. Hebrews 4:10 - For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Feasting on the Word: Receiving and Meditating

In John 6:53-58, Jesus explains that His flesh is true food and His blood is true drink. Though some misunderstood Him to mean literal consumption, Jesus clarified that He was speaking of spiritual nourishment: "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).

To labor for the bread that leads to rest, we must first receive God’s Word and meditate on it continually. This is a deliberate act of “eating” or “feasting” on His promises, letting His truths sink into our hearts and minds. Psalm 1:2 speaks of this, saying, "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." Meditating on God’s Word brings us into His presence and allows His truths to shape our lives, giving us strength, peace, and understanding.

Asking for a Hunger for God’s Word

For many, a desire for the Word does not come naturally. It is something we must seek and pray for, asking God to instill in us a deep hunger for His truth. When we ask God to increase our desire for His Word, we are, in essence, asking to grow in our relationship with Him and thereby entering and walking in his rest.

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus promises, *"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."* To experience true rest, we must have a heart that longs for God’s Word and Spirit. This is a hunger that God delights to fill, and as we labor in seeking His Word, our lives begin to reflect His glory and peace.

Creating with God’s Word and Entering His Rest

The Bible reveals that God created the world through His Word, and after creating, He rested (Genesis 2:2-3). In the same way, we are called to use God’s Word to frame our lives and enter into His rest. When we speak and declare God’s promises, we are shaping our lives in alignment with His will. As Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword." The Word is not passive; it is powerful, creating life and aligning our hearts with God’s purpose.

Laboring for God’s rest means creating our lives around His promises, declaring His Word over our situations, and trusting Him to bring about His plans. When we surrender our lives to His Word, we find perfect rest, knowing that our lives are founded on His unchanging truth. As we yield all to God in worship and thanksgiving, speaking His Word into the natural, we experience the peace that comes from knowing who he is,  that He is in control.

The Word and Spirit: Our Source of Life and Rest

Jesus taught that true life and rest come from Him: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). His Word is our bread, and His Spirit is our source of life. To experience the fullness of God’s rest, we need both the Word and Spirit working in harmony within us.

Without the Word of life, we cannot enter God’s rest, and without the Spirit of life, we cannot experience true peace. When Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (John 6:63), He was showing us that it is only through the Spirit-filled Word that we find true rest and fulfillment.

Conclusion: Resting in Christ the Bread and word of Life

To labor for the everlasting bread is to pursue the life and rest that Jesus offers through His Word and Spirit. As we immerse ourselves in His Word, meditate on His promises, and align our hearts with His Spirit, we find a peace that surpasses understanding. This rest is a gift for those who surrender their lives to Christ, trusting Him to sustain, guide, and fulfill every need.

Let us labor, not for temporary gains, but for the bread that leads to eternal life. As we draw near to God, feasting on His Word with thanksgiving and resting in His Spirit, we experience the fullness of His rest—a rest that comes from knowing we are held by His everlasting love and unbreakable promises.