Smoodock's Blog

Is God concerned with our diet? Well, ‘yes & no’ would most likely be the truth. My family doctor is probably more concerned over my cholesterol level than God is. On the other hand God is interested in what I think about Jesus and in my overall spiritual well being.

When the woman at the well in John 4 left Jesus to tell the townsfolk about whom she had just been speaking, the Apostles approached Jesus with their menu arrangements for the day (John 4:31). However, Jesus told them he had already been refreshed with a good meal (John 4:32); then he explained that his ‘food’ is to do his Father’s will and to finish the work, for which he had been sent (John 4:34). The Apostles were cognizant of one’s physical requirements, but Jesus reminded them that man does not live by bread alone (cp. Matthew 4:4).

It is so easy for us today to criticize the ignorance of the Apostles and the people of Jesus’ day, but, really, we need to be careful in doing so. I know that such an attitude, namely, that ‘I know,’ is really very dangerous, when it comes to understanding Jesus’ words. In reality, I am in the Apostles’ shoes in the story. As they approached Jesus, concerned over his physical necessities, I am right there with them, and I have to wonder, if my ‘spiritual diet’ is something that strengthens me to do the will or work of God. Jesus refused the food they offered, just so he could make a point to them and to us—we who read the account with the hope of understanding.

By reaching out to the woman at the well, Jesus broke just about every one of the prevailing rules of proper spiritual behavior in his day. He spoke with a Samaritan—a Samaritan woman—someone of questionable morals—and in public! If you or I had been in charge of Jesus’ public relations, our task would have been a nightmare! Jesus showed absolutely no interest in ethnic or religious barriers of his day.

He saw prospective followers everywhere! The fields all over the land were ripe with harvest (John 4:35). Yet, who laid it to heart? Jesus was comparing physical fruit with that of the spirit. The time of the physical harvest was later (John 4:35), but the harvest of God’s work is now!

No one was paying attention. Everyone had their hearts and minds on the physical needs of the day. Yet, they couldn’t perceive the will of God. The Jews had nothing to do with the Samaritans. There were religious barriers in place that blinded the eyes of the folks, who were appointed to do the work of God. Other barriers existed between men and women, between priests and the ordinary Jews, between Jews and gentiles—ethnic barriers, religious barriers, gender barriers, and ‘tradition’ barriers. No one saw the harvest fields were ready, because everyone was placing the time for these things much later.

The agenda of men blinded the eyes of God’s servants to the agenda/will of God. The doctrines and traditions of men blinded the eyes of those God had appointed to care for the things of God, and they found themselves unable to do the will/work of God!

I wonder, if the ‘spiritual diet’ I am accustomed to is able to sustain my spiritual life enough, to enable me to recognize the fields that others pass by, reasoning that the time for ‘them’ is not yet. ‘These aren’t ready for the word of God at this time; their time is much later’ is the attitude. Oh, I pray that God would so order my life that Jesus would fill my thoughts, that he would be the spiritual food that sustains me, that his Spirit would sharpen my focus to perceive those who are ready to be harvested for him; and that I would have the courage and the words to reach out to them in his name. May Jesus be my spiritual diet and be my spiritual life, for I am, indeed, what I eat and am called to bear his Image to this world.