Glow Amongst the Ruins (John 4:31-34)

Read John chapter 4 verses 31 to 34. I focused in on verse 34 ...."Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish his work."

At this point the disciples were with Jesus and must have realized His physical condition. Remember as Jesus approached the well in Samaria to draw water He was weary from His travels. So the disciples felt Jesus needed physical nourishment. But again Jesus' focus was elsewhere. He was concerned about the heart of man. He even said that His focus in the "Spirit" and His work for the eternal kingdom is more important than physical food. Notice that the work of the things for the Lord are always going to give us focus and stronger ability even in our physical state.

Jesus' concern for a Samaritan woman living a life of sin caused her to go back to town and share her spiritual experience with others. The passion must have been there, because the result was many went to seek Jesus. This is the effects and influences on man from Jesus' focus on spiritual needs of others rather seeking His own physical needs. What an example for us to follow! Does this world need more people who are focused on others than their focus on their own needs?

We need to remember our nourishment for living comes from God first. All the things of physical life: Food; Clothing; Shelter; Toys; Gas for the car; Water; Wii; X-box; Vacations; Family; Friends; Work; Money; Pets; Television; Movies; Music; Mountain Bikes; Skateboards; Anniversaries; San Diego Chargers winning; Birthdays; Leading a ministry at church; sleep...even the air we breathe..... it is ALL second to our No. 1 focus.... the Lord Jesus as believers in Christ. Our interaction with all of those things in life will be in balance if our focus is on Jesus. We need to gain wisdom from the way He lived and how proper living in "the spirit" is done.

As it says in Deuteronomy 8:3..."man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord."

We sustain from our focus in the Spirit, studying God's Word, the Bible, by seeking deeper application in living in the spirit and the things of eternity. If our focus is not on the Lord we will wilt like a flower without water. Our vibrancy in the Spirit will make us glow amongst the ruins and darkness of our world.

Dear Lord, keep me focused on Jesus and let me learn of deeper ways to live in the "spirit" and have focus on Your eternal Kingdom. Allow me to show Your glory through me into this sometimes very dark world. Amen!