“My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work." John 4:34

What would you have to say about 2020 so far?

It's hard to believe it's already July. Once March hit, the days and weeks seemed to run together. It hasn't been too bad though. I've been able to have more time with my husband and children. My book readership has doubled with so many having more time on their hands. And my daughter was able to graduate from college and find a teaching job for the upcoming school year. Life is more uncertain than usual, but God is still good.

These times in our world actually remind me a lot of the time of Jesus as told in the Gospels. People were suffering from incurable diseases, many were mentally unstable, the religious elite were lording their views over everyone else, political divisions were strong, and many of the common people were poor, helpless, and oppressed.

Jesus said they were like sheep without a shepherd. He was able to heal many, give sight to the blind, feed the hungry, free people from demons, and liberate those who were being oppressed--not with military force but His teachings that taught them to think differently about God, others, and themselves.

He could speak truth and show love and tell great stories, but He also had to rely on the Spirit to move in people's hearts and wait for them to recognize their sin and the great love God had for them. Even with all the miracles He performed, many were skeptical of His true identity and teachings.

There was a man who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus' disciples to be healed, but because of his unbelief, they couldn't do it. When Jesus hears about it, He says, "You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?"

And we all know what the religious elite thought of Him: So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath (by healing a man on that day), he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God. They accused Him of blasphemy and ultimately ordered His death.

Jesus was often the center of attention in great crowds, in both positive and negative ways, but in John 4 we see Jesus in a rare moment where He had a solo encounter with someone. He was traveling through Samaria, a region of ethnically mixed people. Jews did not normally associate with them and avoided the area whenever possible, but Jesus takes the route willingly and sits down to rest at Jacob's Well in the heat of the day. While His disciples go to the nearby village to get lunch, a woman comes to the well to draw water, and He talks to her.

She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?"

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

They continue their discussion, and the woman discerns He isn't an ordinary man, but a prophet, and Jesus reveals His even greater identity of being the promised Messiah. And for reasons that aren't entirely clear, the woman is convinced and runs into town to tell everyone about Him.

When His disciples return with the food, they offer Him some and strongly encourage Him to eat, but Jesus replies with what I imagine as amused joy.

“I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” 😆😂😆

The disciples are confused, wondering if someone else brought Him food. 😕❓😕

Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

"You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest!" 😄😄😄

Are you that thrilled about doing the will of God? Of fulfilling the purpose He has given you?

Personally I don't believe Jesus had a lot of these moments--times where He was able to not only delight in His mission of sharing the truth, but also in the woman's belief.

For the most part, as the prophet Isaiah said, He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.  I don't believe this divinely inspired prophet was only referring to the trial and crucifixion Jesus would suffer, but as a daily way of life. Many were amazed at His teaching and eager to be healed, but we don't see a lot of transformation taking place. And at the end of three years of ministry, He only had about 100 faithful followers.

But He wasn't focused on the results. He was focused on what His Father was asking Him to do, and that brought Him joy. That was His food. That's what sustained Him.

Whatever it is that God is asking you to do--the special life-calling and gifts He has given you or the day-to-day opportunities you have to bless others, let your joy be in the work itself, not the results. The harvest will come sooner or later and make you giddy with happiness and fulfillment. But each day can be a time of feasting in the Kingdom--being a part of something that tastes and fills and satisfies like nothing else in this world.

In these times, the fields are indeed ripe for harvest. Don't be distracted by the strong opinions of others, arguments, and endless rhetoric. People are hurting, confused, worried, weary... The needs are so great.

Perhaps your "food" will involve you continuing on with what you've been doing for years, or maybe it will involve you doing something new. But whatever it is, take joy in it, and don't let anyone or anything take away from simply doing the will of God. For you are God's unique creation, fashioned after Jesus, so you can do the good work He planned for you long ago.

Scripture taken from Mark 6:34, 9:19; John 5:18, 4:9-11, 13-14, 32, 34-35; Isa. 53:3; NLT

Ephesians 2:10, paraphrase mine

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