The hours flew by with us hardly noticing.

An old friend had come for a visit and we immediately picked up where we had left off when we last saw each other. Months had passed, and we were eager to hear about each other’s lives and to just enjoy each other’s company.

As we talked, laughed, and reminisced, hours passed before we knew it. Suddenly, we noticed that it was late into the evening and we had completely missed dinner. We hadn’t noticed our hunger in the midst of our conversation that was satisfying us in a completely different way.

In John 4:34, a similar event takes place.

Jesus was hungry, but as he waited for His disciples to find food, he encountered a woman who was in need of His good news. As He shared with her His grace, forgiveness, and salvation, His hunger went away. His work of salvation both satisfied and filled Him.

Jesus valued cooperating with God in the work of saving people. It took top priority for Him. Other things, like eating, could wait, as long as He satisfied His purpose of spreading the good news of salvation from sin.

May we, too, find satisfaction in being a partner with God in this important work.