What does Jesus' focus on God's will teach us about our daily priorities? Setting the Scene John 4 finds Jesus resting at Jacob’s well in Samaria after a long journey. While He is ministering to the Samaritan woman, His disciples have gone to buy food. When they return, “Meanwhile the disciples urged Him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ ” (John 4:31). Their concern is understandable—He must be hungry and tired. Yet Jesus immediately redirects their attention from physical hunger to a deeper, spiritual hunger. Jesus’ Definition of True Nourishment • John 4:32–34: “But He told them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ … ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.’” • Jesus is not dismissing physical needs; He is revealing a higher priority. Obedience to the Father is His true sustenance. • In John 6:38 Jesus says, “For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” The same theme continues: God’s will comes first, always. Why This Matters for Our Daily Priorities 1. God’s agenda outranks ours • Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” • When we align with God’s purposes, He takes responsibility for our material needs. 2. Obedience brings satisfaction deeper than any earthly reward • Psalm 40:8: “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” • Real fulfillment comes from walking in step with the Father, not from accumulating comforts. 3. Eternity reshapes the value of every task • Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” • Even routine responsibilities become acts of worship when done for Him. Putting First Things First • Begin each day surrendering your schedule to the Father’s direction (Proverbs 3:5–6). • Filter commitments through a simple test: “Does this advance God’s will or merely my own preference?” • Guard time for Scripture and prayer; they recalibrate the heart to God’s priorities (Psalm 119:105). • Serve others intentionally. Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman shows ministry opportunities may arise in unexpected moments. Living the Lesson Romans 12:1–2 urges believers to present their bodies “as a living sacrifice” and to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” That is exactly what Jesus modeled at the well. By making the Father’s will His sustaining food, He demonstrates a lifestyle where every decision—large or small—flows from a singular aim: glorify God and complete His work. When we adopt that mindset, earthly pressures lose their grip, and daily living becomes an ongoing act of worship, powered by the same spiritual nourishment that sustained our Lord. |
    |