33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"
34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
Always after the object of God’s good pleasure in the carrying out of His perfect purposes, Jesus was constantly focused on finishing His divine work while His feet walked this dusty earth. Jesus made God’s work His delight and His business.
“Our Lord never worried and was never anxious, because His purpose was never to accomplish His own plans but to fulfill God’s plans. Fretting is wickedness for a child of God.” Oswald Chambers
In much the same way, the writer of Hebrews gives us the following commands - for our good – teaching us to run this race called life, marked out for us by God, with purpose, perseverance and joy - all with a constant focus on Jesus:
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:1-3 (NIV)
“To love God, to serve Him because we love Him, is...our highest happiness...Love makes all labor light. We serve with enthusiasm where we love with sincerity.” Hannah More
Our hearts and thoughts are to be fixed upon the One who perfected our faith so that we will not grow weary in the work. Jesus was all about reaching His intended goal of bringing many to glory – He was into completion. I find that comforting as I’m all about completion – be it a project, a bunch of to-do’s, a household chore – whatever, I get a bizarre pleasure in striking things off my list - it feels quite liberating! The physical works, frankly, are the easy part to tackle but the spiritual works – that can be a different story altogether! Oftentimes I am befuddled over next steps God would have me take. Too many times I find myself strumming up things and going forth without clear direction. “Busy, busy, busy” as my daughter calls me! Certainly I have wrongly moved ahead without listening for His still small voice. He has promised to direct my path as I wait on His perfect timing and not my own!
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6 (NIV)
11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalms 16:11 (NIV)
It is God’s desire to bring us to His appointed goal. Problems will occur because we live in a fallen world. Yet, God promises in Scripture that as we follow the wisdom given to us through His revealed will it will be a smoother and less problematic way. I’m in on that to be sure – there are certainly some things easier to learn in a classroom than on a field trip! We are told by the prophet Jeremiah:
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:11-13 (NIV)
While God’s thoughts and ways are past my limited knowledge and abilities there are certain things in His revealed will that should not go unnoticed by His children: He desires for His Name to be glorified among the nations, for His Word to be exalted, and for sinners to be saved – these are but a few but they are high on His list throughout Scripture. This is a very good start for all of us! As children of the King, do we bring dishonor to His name through our actions? Do we know His Word well enough to teach and encourage others pointing them to the truth? Are we witnesses in our spheres of influence – we may not be called to cross the seas but we are certainly all called to our families, friends, neighbors and co-workers. This is exactly what Jesus was referring to when He states: “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
“The world is far more ready to receive the gospel than Christians are to hand it out.” George W. Peters
“The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and his apparently free choices are God’s foreordained decrees.” Oswald Chambers
“Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the full in every situation that you believe to be the will of God.” Jim Elliot