I have always heard that pregnant women have certain foods that they crave during pregnancy! Often they know what they want, and will not be quieted until their spouse has searched far and wide to help satisfy that craving! In similar fashion, mankind seems to have a craving, or aspirations for what they want to accomplish in life. As in every other situation of life, the Bible has guidance on this, and Jesus shares with His disciples what He yearns for every day. Can you try to identify what might be the ‘craving’ that will satisfy your soul, as you study the Word of God with me today?

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-11-12
WRITTEN AT: Ormond Beach, FL

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: John 4:34-34
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 34 To clarify, Jesus spoke up and said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and bring it to completion.”  35 As the crowds emerged from the village, Jesus said to his disciples, “Why would you say, ‘The harvest is another four months away’? Look at all the people coming—now is harvest time! Their hearts are like vast fields of ripened grain—ready for a harvest. 36 Everyone who reaps these souls for eternal life will receive a reward. Both those who plant spiritual seeds and those who reap the spiritual harvest will celebrate together with great joy! 37 And this confirms the saying, ‘One sows the seed and another reaps the harvest.’ 38 I have sent you out to harvest a field that you haven’t planted, where many others have labored long and hard before you. And now you are privileged to profit from their labors and reap the harvest.”

APPLICATION: I believe that over time we can see where humans tend to focus most on the things and people they have developed a drive to grow/expand/enrich. Take for example a mom’s favorite child who seems destined for ‘big’ things in life. That mom will give up her choice meat for that child; she will spend her last dollar to dress that child in the most current and stylish attire; she will challenge teachers who may appear to pick on that child in class; and she might even fight with a referee calling a game her child in playing in! Why is that? I believe it’s because that mom has developed a hunger for the success of that child and she only feels satisfied when that child is winning, smiling, happy, or at the top of their game – whether it’s scholastically or competitively in sports. In our Scripture, Jesus shared that He had a deep hunger for what He felt compelled to do for His Father – God. Just as we are driven to eat when we’re famished, Jesus showed us that He was driven to ensure that none of His children should perish, because there was so much more that the Father has in store for us. Imagine at the reading of our earthly father’s will we find out that he had banked thousands of dollars, hoping that long after his passing his kids would still be financially fit. Wouldn’t that be a sigh of relief for us, especially as we acknowledge how tough it is to survive these days? Well guess what, Jesus knew that His Father is a lot more generous than we could begin to imagine. Why in John 3:16 we are reminded that God made some very special arrangements for us, to make sure that His provisions were easily accessible to us. He sent His very own Son (Jesus) into the world, so that those who would welcome and accept Him, He would gladly open the gates of heaven for us to go in. Jesus not only personally felt the cruelty of mankind at Calvary, but He was motivated by His Father to make sure that we not miss the opportunity to receive all that God has provided for us to enjoy for all eternity. Jesus was ’hungry’ to get on with the work of His Father and to please Him unconditionally. For those of us that have accepted God’s special gift – Jesus Christ, we should have a hunger similar to that of God’s Son, for there are many in our circle of friends that still have not accepted God’s gift. I pray that every reader and/or listener will be as ‘hungry’ as Jesus was, to share the Good News of God’s special gift, for the gates of heaven are still being opened today for those who accept Jesus as Lord! Check your drive, your motivation, your desires and your will to advance the Kingdom of God! Make sure your heart is in the right place!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus is still hungry for the souls of His children that He sacrificed His own life for. Heaven is still available to those who believe – personally believe, in the name of Jesus Christ!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, in greatest humility, let me ask that You please make us ‘hungry’ for the same things that motivated You to save the world from sin and destruction. There are still many who refuse to listen, obey and accept the invitation `You offered in John 3:16, and that You specifically went to the cross for. Lord, I pray that we will not be able to cope in life until our desire is satisfied to see our loved ones saved from their destructive and unthoughtful resolution to just die without a Savior or the assurance of their heavenly destiny. Thank You for the assurance that You will still save souls, now if we could be about our Father’s work, perhaps our cravings will be satisfied and the angels in heaven will rejoice with us over one more soul who surrenders to the lordship of Jesus Christ. AMEN!