Daily Devotional Details

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“I have food to eat that you do not know about.” John 4:32

When the disciples left Jesus to go into town and get food he was tired and weary. But when they came back less than an hour later he was energized, animated, fired up, refreshed, reinvigorated and full of joy! What happened?

The disciples tried to make sense of it: “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” (4:33). “Did someone show up while we were away and give him lunch?” But Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (4:34).

Jesus is saying: If you do what God wants you to do and serve where God wants you to serve, it will be like food for your soul. Give yourself to the work of God and your own soul will be fed. This is not the only truth about ministry. If you give yourself to the work of God, you will also find that there is a cross to carry and there is a cost. These truths belong together.

Jesus was tired, weary, and hungry. He could easily have ignored this woman. He could have smiled and said something about the weather. But he extended himself to reach out to this woman. He gave himself to win her with faith, hope, and love. And what came from this was that Jesus himself was refreshed, renewed, energized, and filled with joy!

Here’s the principle: Hold yourself back from ministry to others, and your soul will run dry. Extend yourself in ministry to others, and you will experience great joy.

Would you say that you are holding back or extending yourself in ministry?