We don't care about...
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Object:
We don't care about miracles as long as God puts bread on the table. Do the homeless come to the Salvation Army only because there is a free meal? Sure, that may be the start, but we hope it will not be the end and that their hunger may be whetted for spiritual food. People came to my church during the week looking for a handout, but I tried to give them spiritual bread as well. Some were happy for that, but some walked out empty-handed and empty-hearted. Every week I get appeals from my former students in Nepal for a handout. I can understand their urgent needs, but they also receive my prayer support -- sometimes in place of cash. We both know what is more important. Almost all have seen God work miracles in their midst, but God does not always jump to answer when they are hungry.
Most of my Nepali friends work for the food that endures to eternal life. If they weren't they would return to their former faith, since most have been alienated their families who could have given them an unending supply of earthly food. It was a sign of the genuineness of their dedication to our Lord. Would all of us here in America, the richest nation, give all our wealth to serve our Lord? That should give us something to meditate on. Remember the fellow who wanted to follow the Lord, but when he heard that he would have to give away all his wealth it gave him second thoughts?
We often think of God's work as giving to the poor or fighting for the rights of those who are persecuted or treated unjustly. We think of jobs like us pastors, or teachers or councilpersons who serve in some capacity for the Lord. Of course, we need those people! But Jesus seems to be saying that our most important work is to believe in him.
Some are looking for miraculous signs to make them believe. I once attended an Oral Roberts healing meeting in Sacramento. It was crowded with eager people hoping to see some miracles. Would they wait to believe until they saw some signs from heaven? Maybe some would, but the most important work is to believe in Jesus with or without miracles.
If some were healed it was not Oral Roberts who did it, nor was it Moses who gave the Israelites bread from heaven. We miss the point, which is that Jesus is the true bread from heaven!
When we receive the Lord's Supper we show that we believe in the true bread from heaven. I hope it is done because of our belief and not just as routine that we have done for years. I hope that each time we come forward we feel the divine presence in, with, and under that bread! When we receive the Lord's body, we should never be spiritually hungry again!
Most of my Nepali friends work for the food that endures to eternal life. If they weren't they would return to their former faith, since most have been alienated their families who could have given them an unending supply of earthly food. It was a sign of the genuineness of their dedication to our Lord. Would all of us here in America, the richest nation, give all our wealth to serve our Lord? That should give us something to meditate on. Remember the fellow who wanted to follow the Lord, but when he heard that he would have to give away all his wealth it gave him second thoughts?
We often think of God's work as giving to the poor or fighting for the rights of those who are persecuted or treated unjustly. We think of jobs like us pastors, or teachers or councilpersons who serve in some capacity for the Lord. Of course, we need those people! But Jesus seems to be saying that our most important work is to believe in him.
Some are looking for miraculous signs to make them believe. I once attended an Oral Roberts healing meeting in Sacramento. It was crowded with eager people hoping to see some miracles. Would they wait to believe until they saw some signs from heaven? Maybe some would, but the most important work is to believe in Jesus with or without miracles.
If some were healed it was not Oral Roberts who did it, nor was it Moses who gave the Israelites bread from heaven. We miss the point, which is that Jesus is the true bread from heaven!
When we receive the Lord's Supper we show that we believe in the true bread from heaven. I hope it is done because of our belief and not just as routine that we have done for years. I hope that each time we come forward we feel the divine presence in, with, and under that bread! When we receive the Lord's body, we should never be spiritually hungry again!
