Satisfaction in Obedience

“In the meantime, His disciples urged Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’

But He said to them, ‘I have food to eat of which you do not know.’

Therefore, the disciples said to one another, ‘Has anyone

brought Him anything to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food

is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.’”

     John 4:31-34 (NKJV)

As we’ve just finished celebrating Thanksgiving, with its emphasis on food as well as thanks, I was struck by the above passage. I’ve read it before but it really jumped out at me this week.  Jesus considered obedience to the Father’s will and doing His work as His food.  One of my study Bibles indicates about this passage that when Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-26), He was performing the Father’s will and thereby received greater sustenance and satisfaction than mere physical food could offer Him.  I don’t know about you, but that is very convicting to me.

God places heavy emphasis on obedience, stating that “to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22, NKJV)  Of course, no matter how hard we try, we will never exhibit perfect obedience as Jesus did. But that should be our heart’s desire, to obey our Lord.  We can find true and lasting satisfaction in seeking to do His will more than any delicious Thanksgiving leftovers can provide.