Jesus' food

I’m very thankful to the great weekend that I’ve heard about, thankful for Dave leaving his church and coming to ours (in the subzero weather) so that we could get away.

24 years ago today Denise Vernon said she’d take me for better or for worse. She had no idea…

I would have to say that looking back on our lives together, the greatest joy has obviously been our daughters. (If you haven’t kept up with Rachel in England lately – check out her blog...she writes about Parkview today.) Lauren and Becca are both serving God now and will follow him wherever he leads, too. This is such a blessing.

But marriage is more than the kids. They will be gone soon and our calling has always and will always be ministry together. Interestingly enough, a full three fourths of our married life has been working here at Parkview together. We’ve been raising this church almost as long as we’ve been raising children.
And I don’t say that lightly; “raising” is a good expression. So is Parkview a teenager now? YES, TURN DOWN THE MUSIC AND GET OFF THE PHONE.

(Actually Parkview is 57 years old, we just don’t act like it.)

But there is so much more to do.

I was reading from John yesterday about how Jesus had a great time in some solitude and scripture (which was something I promised some guys I would do.)

I noticed what Jesus said in John 4:31:

³¹" Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” ³²But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” ³³Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” ³⁴“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. ³⁵Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. ³⁶Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. ³⁷Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. ³⁸I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

The first thing I noticed is that Jesus wasn’t hungry because his work was his food. His mission was his food. I think about that from time to time doing ministry. Unfortunately I’m not Jesus – in so many ways. We are headed to a conference tonight with Pastor’s from large churches around the country. Most of us would say the same thing. “Bring it on – this is what I was made for.” But we aren’t Jesus, and we should eat. The problems come in ministry when you get a "Messiah Complex" and think that you are like Jesus. And frankly no one had a more balanced ministry than Jesus did. He walked a lot, he prayed a lot, he “got away” from the crowds a lot.

But we are in this for the long haul and we aren't Jesus.

So today, my food is some brown eggs and oatmeal, and maybe a nice steak for dinner. I’m so thankful for the opportunity that Parkview has given us to do ministry together and have so much joy and fulfillment. But I’m also so thankful for some time away from it, and some time to learn and grow from other people who are in the same boat and fighting Satan at the same level. it will be good.

So that when we come back, we will be back to the rest of that verse. Honestly, I think it’s true. Others have done the hard work and we are reaping the benefit. But the fields are still white. Whoever did the hard work has done a lot of it, because we can’t reap fast enough.

As we come back to start “The Great Investment” this weekend – I will be ready to enlarge the territory and bring in more harvest. The harvest for eternal life. It’s hard not to eat and sleep that! Jesus was so excited by the Samaritan woman finding hope and peace and eternal life – he couldn’t eat. I’m so there! I hope you will be ready to join me.

Tim

Comments

[Paula]

Yes! We are ready and rarin' to

GO!

Happy Anniversary! and yes you have
to come back...no matter what the weather is like! :)

[John Synal]

Great message from Dave yesterday. I receive 'Thoughts for the day" everyday and here is today's...
"People, like nails, lose their effectiveness when they lose direction and begin to bend." "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18

Incredible timing I would say! Tim, thank you for leading us to stay focused and in pursuit to what Christ wants us to do at Parkview. God Bless!!!!!!