Back to Basics
A popular candy bar’s slogan says something along the lines of “you’re not you when you’re hungry.” And it’s true! Some people shut down. Others get “hangry.” It’s hard to focus. It’s hard to deal with the big, elephant-sized issues when you have the constant worry of daily needs like food weighing you down.
When big things are happening in your life, good or bad, they require focus.
For the disciples, they needed to focus on Jesus, on keeping the faith after the crucifixion.
For me, I needed to focus on healing after losing my first baby. And then, when I had my son, I needed to focus on being a mom and healing physically from his birth.
When you tend to someone’s most basic need of food, it not only provides comfort, but it helps them create room for other things. With the worry of food graciously removed, they get to focus on being human, on finding the strength to heal, to grow, to learn from whatever is happening.
The Bible is full of stories about people feeding one another. Probably the most well-known example is Jesus feeding the 5,000 with nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fish, supernaturally multiplying the food so that everyone had their fill and there were leftovers.
It’s clear from scripture that feeding people was an important aspect of ministry.
John 21:15-17 (niv)
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “ you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
Take time this week to reflect on how God has provided for you. Beyond the ultimate provision of sacrificing his only son, how has God used others to provide for you at just the right time? If this hasn’t happened to you yet, imagine what a blessing it would be to receive a gift of food when all you need to do is focus on something bigger.
There are people around you who need room to focus on something other than the basic necessities of life, like food. There are people dealing with loss, with illness, with financial insecurity, or a number of other stressors. There are also people handling the blessings of new life, which also carries significant weight that pushes things like food to the wayside.
The need is all around, but you may need to look beyond the four walls of your church. There may be a neighbor, a coworker, an old friend, or even a stranger on the side of the road who needs to see the face of Jesus through your provision. By being his hands and feet this side of Heaven, you can help someone make room to focus during this season when we celebrate God’s forgiveness through Jesus.
So your task for this week is simple: Help someone make room. Feed them.
James 2:14-18 (niv)
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But some will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
Over the next few weeks, you can find reflections here at vineyardrichmond.com. Use them to prompt yourself to focus on your faith in a fresh way. Each week we will consider a different theme as we build up to the resurrection event. On Mondays, we will draw your attention to a biblical focus on a character in the gospel accounts. On Wednesdays, we will reflect personally on how that theme affects our spiritual lives. On Fridays, we will focus outwardly as we consider how God is inviting us to engage the world around us for his kingdom. If what you are learning is meaningful to you, click one of the share buttons at the top of these posts to share it with your friends. Let this be a time of personal reflection and careful examination of our own hearts and minds.