Starting a new project or venture can be exciting. We have dreams and ideas which stir our hearts and minds. But often as the days go on, we begin to get tired and want to see the end result.
Staying focused to the task at hand often takes tremendous discipline.
The day had been a busy one for Jesus. The disciples return to find Him talking with a woman, a Samaritan one at that. Although shocked at their discovery, Scripture tells us, “none had the nerve to ask him” why He was talking to her (John 4:27, NLT). They began to urge Jesus to eat.
Jesus explains to them that He has food which they know nothing about. The disciples begin to question one another if it were possible Jesus had already eaten in their absence. Jesus turns to them and asks …
“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish the work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest?’ ” (John 4:34-35, NLT)
The disciples focused on the immediate, the here and now – food. Jesus stayed focused on the future, the eternal – the Gospel.
Jesus received strength from doing His Father’s will. And so will we.
Passion will develop and grow, increasingly so, from doing that which He calls us to do. We will peeter out otherwise.
Jesus “tried to tell them that the satisfaction of completing the work the Father had entrusted to him was greater than any food he might have been given.”
(The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 9, page 57)
Finishing is hard work and will require a discipline which may not come naturally to us. Finishing has been defined as “to bring something to completion” (dictionary.com).
Jesus was focused on finishing the task God had given Him. The disciples saw in Him the determination to finish well. He set the example for them to follow and they learned from Him. Paul later reminds us all:
- “The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart’s been in the right place all along. You’ve got what it takes to finish up, so go to it.”
(2 Corinthians 8:11, The Message) - Â “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Timothy 4:7, NLT)
The harvest takes time.
May we learn as they did and keep our focus.
Staying the course brings purpose and satisfaction and fulfillment in life.
This is Day 29 of 31 Questions Jesus Asked. You can find the entire series here.
Today I am joining … Thought Provoking Thursday and Looking Up .
I needed this today – a reminder to be patient, that God’s plans take time and we have to just stay committed to the task before us and trust He’ll deliver in His due time. Thanks for needed words this morning!
It’s not an easy reminder to receive. It’s hard to stay focused and get across the finish line. Even then, it can take time to see the benefits. But hold on & trust Him!
A great reminder that my timetable is not always aligned with Gods 🙂 Followed you from Thursday shares on the 31 days fb page
Thanks for the visit today 🙂 It is so true that timetables don’t always align. But He always come through “in the fullness of time”.
I’m a great starter, but not so great at finishing. This has been wonderful encouragement for me today. Thank you, Joanne. “Jesus received strength from doing His Father’s will. And so will we.” Amen. I will remember this!
May we press on, Candace. Perhaps the answer lies in letting Him finish in us what He has started 🙂 (Philippians 1:6)
Staying focused to finish what God requires of us can be hard when the finishing seems impossible and strength is gone. It would be great to know the exact end date for the trials we are in, so that it would be easier to endure.
It would definitely be so much easier. I can’t help but wonder though, if we would not learn to trust Him. Something for me to think about 🙂 Grateful for your visit!
It seems as though as soon as one season of waiting ends another one begins… you would think I’d be used to it by now! I’m learning that Jesus is more interested in the process and that I trust Him in it than my schedule requirements.
Wendy, may you endure in the process knowing that He is good & all that He does is good.
31 Days! Yay, we made it, Joanne!
May your weekend be filled with rest …
;-}
We did, Linda, we did!!! Shhh, don’t tell anyone but I kind of miss it 🙂 Blessings!