I love to cook. Ok, let me rephrase that: I love to feed the masses. Yeah, that is more accurate. I definitely am not the “chef” that uses fancy stuff like real garlic cloves and state-of-the-art equipment. Rather, I love to surprise people with food whether it is bringing a little something extra/unique to a picnic or feeding and entire company of drill sergeants strawberry pretzel salad dessert because they have been working ridiculous hours. It is one of the ways that I love on people.
As I mentioned yesterday in my post, eating is not only a necessary aspect of life, but it can also be a fun (or maybe awkward) social experience, depending on the situation. I have, on more than one occasion jacked up a meal I cooked. Example: 4th grade, zucchini brownies when I thought the recipe said 1 CUP of baking soda instead of 1 Teaspoon… my mom saved the batch before I mixed it up, but then later realized that I had managed to blend up the rubber spatula into the mix and bake it… fortunately I was the only one (to my knowledge) that chomped into a bit of spatula later in my brownies at the 4-H picnic. I have also spilled things at restaurants and once shot a lemon across the room into a lap of a stranger as I was trying to squeeze it into my water. Regardless of these mishaps, my intention has always been good– and God calls us to “feed” others with his spiritual food (no rubber spatulas included please.)
Proverbs 22:9 says “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Yes, being generous is important, but “poor” doesn’t mean only financially– maybe someone is poor in spirit and doesn’t know the gifts that God has freely given. We can become the “chefs” and cook up a recipe that will soothe their soul… literally.
When we are feeding others, we have to keep in mind they may or may not be ready for our type of food that we are eating. Think of the different foods that people of different ages eat. Hence a baby Christian will need different spiritual food in smaller, more delicate doses than a mature Christian. “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:12)
Our ability to feed others isn’t limited to just friends or people we know. We can feed and dine even with people that we don’t know or don’t really even like through utilizing the Love of God. EVERYBODY needs to eat. “I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. (Hosea 11:4) Romans 12:20 also says “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do you know the Lord? If so, take the advice of Jesus that he told to Peter in John 21:17: “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.” Jesus set the example by feeding the masses with minimal bread and fish. He has already given us all the spiritual food we need to pass it on and feed those around us.
Let’s round up a “herd” and feed Jesus’ sheep with His Word and sharing the Good News. You don’t have to be a great cook. You don’t need to worry about blending up a spatula or using too much baking soda. You don’t really even need the ability to boil water. You can simply grab a chair and a companion, sit down, chat and join the friendly feast!
Hungry for Him,
SGK
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3
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