Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Best Food


Ever grow tired of doing good? Jesus was faint and hungry in John 4, so the disciples went to purchase food. When they returned, they were astonished at the change in Him. He was sitting up, face animated, eyes kindled. 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."From this passage with its images, we may discover several laws of spiritual work.

1. Spiritual work is refreshing to soul and body (v. 34). If we love spiritual work, it will kindle our souls. What does this look like?

2. There are seasons in the spiritual sphere, of sowing and reaping, just as in farming (v. 35). How are farming and evangelism similar?

3. Spiritual work links the workers in unity (v. 36). What steps can we take to be unified in what God desires for us to do?

4. Spiritual work has rich rewards (vv. 36–38).  God will reward all we do, and all we try to do, and all we wish to do. What do spiritual rewards look like?

May we always remember who we work for and what it’s all about. Amen?