John 4: 34

Johnny Douglas

- Difficulties in life are mostly choice-related.
- Every choice moves us closer to or farther away from something.
- Just where are your choices taking your life?
- What does your behaviour demonstrate you are saying 'yes' or 'no' to in life?

John 4: 34 records Jesus saying, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work."

John is relating to us the importance of the choice that Jesus makes. One of the highest reasons for doing 'what is right' is that we desire to be exactly what our Father wants us to be. We do this not for our own sake, but for His. Because we love Him and also trust Him, we love whatever He desires for us.

Loving our heavenly Father's desires does not come easily. We have to learn this kind of love. The much simpler thing is to love what we want for ourselves, and then love what God wants for us only insofar as it coincides with our predetermined wishes. In fact, we often go so far as to decide what is God's will based upon nothing more than what we want His will to be. This choice-stuff matters heaps! The implications are massive for now and eternity.

Because we're used to self-centered thinking and selfish choosing, learning to do God's will for God's sake requires that a war be fought. Our unruly mind must surrender to His mind. It might seem completely absurd, surely looking out for ourselves is the normal way of the world?! But this is not how it was supposed to be. We were created to be in God's image, and to have a heart after God. So rebellion against God is completely unnatural! If we submit to God, we begin to be transformed back into His likeness, the likeness for which we were created. We begin to truly become who we were always supposed to be. We need to stop our unnatural rebellion and start thinking in line with God by "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"
(2 Corinthians 10: 5).

Learning to love our Father's desires comes in the journey of faith and obedience. Initially it is a daily battle against our sinful nature but the more we come to trust God's wisdom and love, the more we'll be eager to give our desires over to be His! Our love for Him will draw us into a deeper longing to act according to His will. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5: 3).

Choose your love; Love your choice.
May Christ be your all in all.