Looking for Work

Scripture: Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” John 4:34-38

Observation: Several times in John, Jesus describes his work and ministry in terms of continuing or joining into the work of God. That connection starts here, with the discussion of reaping and sowing. God - through the trials of history and the words of the prophets - has sown seed even among the Samaritans. They worship God, wonder about his power, have questions about the best and proper way to worship him, and know of the coming Messiah. Jesus points out to his disciples that he himself has already joined in with God and is already reaping and "receiving wages." Jesus has joined into God's work and is gathering fruit, so that he and God may rejoice in the harvest.

In turn, Jesus will be sending his disciples to reap soon. They will be sent into the world, to places that are curious about God, where they will see that seed was already sown. In some cases, they will sow the seed and leave, only for a brother to come along later and reap the harvest.

Application: It seems like years ago that I studied "Experiencing God" and analyzed the way to join in work God is already doing. The hardest part, it seems, is finding what he is doing in this day and age.

We are in a time and place where people are publicly thankful that they have rejected God. Yesterday alone, I heard, read, or saw signs of multiple people who were openly promoting the fact that they have rejected Christianity and were actively happy about that. It is hard to join God in that kind of work. However, now it seems like that is the majority of the work - just trying not to be insulted when we plant seeds about love, Jesus, and eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, now I'm depressed and defeated. I seek your work where I can join you, but I see your work thwarted or ignored or rejected every day. Please ... come, Lord Jesus.