Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.” But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” “Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” ~John 4:31-34
People like to throw around the newly-coined word “hangry” these days. It means a person is so hungry, they are starting to get angry. It’s a funny word that we often use jokingly, but I think it really says something about who we are and what’s really important to us. There are television networks completely dedicated to food. I see countless recipe videos filling my Facebook newsfeed every day. We plan our celebrations around food. When we need comfort, many of us turn to food. Most nights, the first question my family asks me at home is, “What’s for dinner?” It seems, based on the text above, that times weren’t all that different in Jesus’ day.
There’s Jesus, spending time with a wayward woman, leading her toward Salvation. Based on the disciples’ urging, we can assume it was probably well past mealtime. They were worried about Jesus’ stomach, but He was more concerned with the soul of this woman. He was more interested in doing the work the Father had given Him than feeding Himself. Did he feel hungry? Very likely. Did He let that get in the way of doing the work God had set before Him? Not remotely.
Have you ever been working so diligently on something that was really important to you that you forgot to eat? Isn’t that an amazing occurrence? As people who are normally so focused on the next thing we are going to eat, it’s amazing to me that it’s even possible. Imagine being so focused on connecting with God and serving Him that food became secondary, or even unnecessary – at least for a time. What joy you would feel in realizing that God gives us the ability to set aside the physical nourishment of this world in favor of the nourishment that comes from doing the will of God? What new joy would come as a result of that kind of obedience?
I urge you, friends, to set your mind on Jesus’ example for the duration of your fast. Place all your thoughts on Him. Serve Him with joy in knowing that God loves us so much more than we love food. Lose yourself in serving Him so diligently that you tune out that hunger for those “missing foods” in favor of a closer, more meaningful friendship with Jesus.
Blogtastic 