John chapter 6 verses 28-29 (NIV)
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
The people were used to seeing their religious teachers “doing” things and probably expecting that this was how to please God. I’m sure they were probably expecting Jesus to give them a list of things to do. So I think they would have been surprised at His response. Sometimes we do have to work at putting our doubts and fears behind us and putting our trust in God. It does sometimes take a bit of an effort to die to ourselves and I think that’s what Jesus was aiming to teach the people here. And that instruction still applies to us today. God is not interested in us “doing things” unless it is something that He has asked us to do.
Dear Lord,
Help me to remember that all You require from us is to be obedient to what You ask of us. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.