WORK GOD’S WORKS (4)

“Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to FINISH HIS WORK!” – John 4:34

When Believers in Christ WORK GOD’S WORKS, Joy, Fulfilment and Grace to Finish are the rewards: “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to FINISH HIS WORK” (Jh.4:34). The New Living Translation reads: “My nourishment comes from doing the WILL of God, who sent me, and from finishing HIS WORK.” When Jesus’ disciples returned from going into town to buy food, they offered some to Him, but he said, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (v.32). Jesus had just offered living water to a Samaritan woman who came to draw water from a well (Jh.4: 6-26). When she discovered that Jesus was the Messiah, she got so excited that she left her water pot to tell others about Him. Tasting of the Food, she enlisted in His work!

Jesus’ highest Satisfaction was found in DOING the Father’s Will and finishing HIS WORK! That must be our testimony too. We all have the biological need to eat and drink, but a deeper need within, for reality. Yet, we don’t know what is best for us, being limited in understanding. God, however, is omniscient. He knows all things, and what is best for us; not food that feeds us once, but Jesus, the Bread of Life, who gives us life eternal. When we discover that Jesus is the reality who satisfies the thirst and hunger in our souls, physical needs and mundane needs become insignificant and trivial beside the deep, abiding joy that Jesus gives.

Jesus warned in John 6: 27, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give to you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” The people were more interested in the miracles than in the Miracle-Worker. Rather than wanting to serve Jesus, they wanted Jesus to serve them. They weren’t seeking Jesus at all, but were interested in and seeking what they thought would be to their own benefit, not knowing what really would be to their benefit. The greatest thing anyone could have, is Eternal Life in Christ. The greatest fulfilment is that which comes in serving Him!

Just as automobiles are not designed to run on water, Believers were not redeemed to run on the junk foods that the world offers. We are not designed to live apart from God. When we long to do His Will more than we desire physical food or material provisions, then we’ll know the Jesus-kind of Joy. There’s incredible Joy, inner satisfaction, and unfathomable sense of fulfilment that comes from walking and working with God: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Mt.5:6).

Specifically, when Jesus said, “My food” – what gives Me nourishment and satisfaction – “is to do the Will of Him who sent Me,” He meant, “My food is to give Eternal Life.” In other words, “I give life because I AM LIFE”! Elsewhere, Jesus introduced Himself: “I AM the Bread of Life” (Jh.6:35); “I AM the Resurrection and the LIFE” (Jh.11:25); and “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the LIFE” (Jh.14:6). The import of all of these is: “My food is to be what I AM. I don’t just eat food. I am the Food. I don’t get life. I GIVE LIFE!”

Following Christ’s Steps, we are called to be LIFE GIVERS, to WORK GOD’S WORKS of LIFE – to rescue, save, win, and wean souls, draw sinners away from darkness and death, and bring in the harvest: “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for ETERNAL LIFE, that both he who sows and he who reaps may REJOICE together” (vv.35b-36). We’ll find great Joy and Fulfilment as we work His works of Life!