Feed Them part 1
I think its interesting how often the Bible talks about food. And, more specifically, eating. And, even MORE specifically, FEEDING people. This isn't the main thrust of my Rant series, but in Mark chapter 5 there's a story of Jesus raising a little girl from the dead. And immediately after performing that miracle, this happened, "And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat" (Mark 5:43). She was dead. Now she's alive. Feed her. And, of course, this works on two levels--the natural and the Spiritual. That's kind of the progession we often see. "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual" (1 Corinthians 15:46). Because the truth of the matter is... if your tummy is grumbling, its hard to hear someone giving you Spiritual truth. You almost have to take care of the natural first, then the Spirit comes along, well, naturally. Look at James 2:15-16, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" I think the Message Bible says it even better, "For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup--where does that get you?"" And don't get me wrong, there are people in my life that if I know they are going through a hard time I can drop them a Bible verse, or a passage of Scripture, and that will fill them right up. But not everybody is at that level. And I've found that most of the time, when someone is going through a hard time... what they want more than anything is for someone to listen to them. To let them know that they're not alone. But, again, if someone's naturally hungry... give them something to eat. That's important. That goes a long way. And then, once you've met that physical need, then you can turn to deeper things. Natural first then Spiritual. Ok. So. Let's get to my point for the next few days: "After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs"" (John 21:15 MSG). This is the same Simon Peter who claimed he loved Jesus the most, and then denied him three times before the rooster crowed. And I didn't quote the whole passage--we may get into in later one--but Jesus asks him three times if He loves him. I think He was not only giving Peter a way to redeem himself, but I think Jesus was SHOWING Peter HOW to love Him. Not by bragging about it... but by DOING something about it. We love God because He first loved us. And we love God BY loving each other. And we love each other by feeding each other. Naturally AND Spiritually. Seeing a need and meeting it. I think if you can do something to make someone happy you should. Because that seems like a rare thing. But even if its something that seems small to you... I've come to the conclusion that the little things ARE the big things. A hot meal to someone who is hungry. A ear that willing to listen. Being there for someone and giving them what they need. That's the connection that we share with each other. That's the bond of love that flows out of our hearts as we let God love us until we are so full of His love that we couldn't keep it in if we tried!