In John 6:35, Jesus says that whoever comes to him and believes in him will not hunger or thirst. Of course we know that he does not mean Christians will never again need to eat or drink. Instead he is teaching us something about what we desire and rely on. In this world we often get distracted by the necessities and luxuries of life - food, shelter, transportation, television, and so on. Jesus would have us fix our eyes on him rather than on the things of this world. Our need for the necessities of life will never diminish, but our priorities change: we begin to realize that our desire for God, for satisfaction in Christ, makes us less reliant on the things the world tells us we need.

Jesus says to come unto him all who are weary or heavy laden, and he will give us rest. Not the kind of rest Sandra and I get when we can escape from the kids for a few days, but the kind of rest that gives us assurance that the cares of the world are not so great as we once thought. As those who are forgiven and brought into God’s kingdom, we are guided by priorities the world will not understand but priorities which lead to the greatest satisfaction and delight. Delight yourself in the Lord, the psalmist says in Psalm 37:4, and he will give you the desires of your heart. When your delight is in God, he will be what you desire and you will find yourself increasingly satisfied in him.

Come to Christ, all who are weary and heavy laden, and he will give you true, genuine, lasting rest.