March 16

Doing the Father’s Will

Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. — John 4:34 BSB

Jesus explained to His disciples that His strength had been renewed during their absence because He had been doing His Father’s work. This labor revived Him. There’s a hidden blessing in these words for all of Christ’s followers. There’s a life that goes beyond mere physical existence. As Jesus said elsewhere, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Bread feeds the body, but it cannot nourish the soul. True life is sustained by communion with God, which comes through doing His will.

Obedience brings the presence of God into our lives. This was what sustained Jesus in all His sufferings. He said, “He who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” The simple joy of doing God’s will was part of the “food” that nourished Jesus. There was also the joy of saving a lost soul. We can’t fully grasp how much joy it brings to Jesus when someone repents and comes to God. This same joy was what sustained Him through the suffering of the cross—“who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame.”

These words hold deep and rich truths for us. Just as it was for Jesus, doing God’s will nourishes our souls. Submitting to God’s will in times of suffering can lift our spirits above the pain. Wholehearted devotion to God’s work brings us into close communion with Him, allowing us to find joy even in toil and sacrifice. Doing God’s will connects us to Him, and that is the essence of true life.