Linda Guy
"Jesus said, My food is to do the Will of Him that sent Me". John 4:34
Jesus places before each of us a plate of food. The meal is what will satisfy us and make us happy and fulfilled. Jesus declared that His food was to do the will of His Father. The food in front of us is His will, so doing the will of the Father, as Christ did, is what satisfies us. What food has God served you? What is on your plate?The problem is, we are so busy looking around at what is on others' plates that we neglect to partake of what He has given us. You may even think there is nothing on your plate, or you do not like what is there. Many are picky eaters, believing that God's will is a buffet meal, and they may choose only what they think is tasty and edible. Of course, the flesh (our condition when we are not abiding in Christ) will always go after the 'best deal', the cheapest meal, the one that costs nothing to pride, image or self-centeredness. No wonder we feel dissatisfied and empty; always fretting about what we do not have; being envious of what others have and neglecting what we have been given.
God's will is His heart and mind. His heart is Love. What God serves on our plate comes through Christ's nail pierced hands of Love. He has selected and prepared it especially for us; and for no one else. The main reason we do not want to eat up, is because we believe that obedience means we have to eat what we do not like. "Eat up, it's good for you" as our mothers said when we balked at the spinach. We feel that is what God is saying to us, because through our experience of legalism, we believe He will serve up only bitter herbs. The thought of obedience, to put it crudely, makes us 'gag'.
Be assured, though, His meal is sweet; as the Psalmist says, 'How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth' (Psalm 119:103)
God's will, His commandments, are not burdensome; they are a joy, for they are given to make us happy. When we see that the life of Christ within us craves obedience, and that we are only yielding to the appetite that is within, we will eagerly eat. You cannot share your plate with another. You can only encourage others to share in the delight of doing the Father's will, as you do. His will is to be done; not just to be thought about, systematized, written about, discussed, analyzed or traded. We even may enjoy reading about His will, just as I cut out gourmet recipes from magazines, with good intentions, but then throw them in the drawer unused.
Instances of neglecting what's on our plate would be in ministry, marriage, family, finances, health. We want what others have; their opportunities, their gifts, their apparent successes; the relationships they have; we want to do what they are doing. All we see are the sweet desserts, and that is what we are jealous of. But if we knew fully all that accompanies their meal, we may decide ours was acceptable after all. Do we know their meal includes suffering? discouragement? trials and weakness? Be content with your food.
The appetizer on each of our plates is that we believe in His Son. 'This is the work of God, that you believe on His Son'. John 6:29 Believe that He is your Shepherd, not only leading you in all that is to be done, but doing it in and through you as He is your Vine. He provides, produces, and is all sustenance.
What else is on your plate? What has He spoken into your heart as you have yielded to Him? Bless that enemy? Ring that friend? Wait on Him? Forgive? Admit you are wrong? Absorb the offence? Each of us has a work that God desires to do through us. His will is perfect for each of us. As we eat daily what He has placed in front of us, walking in faith in His loving Voice, we will be satisfied, and find there is plenty on our plate to occupy us without being greedy and wanting what others have. A friend, after a seminar, said "I now need to go home and eat humble pie with my husband. I need to say I am sorry". She did, and was happy.
Eat and enjoy! His will is not grievous; it won't poison you.