It is a southern thing, perhaps, to ask your dinner guests to ‘come hungry.’ If you have ever been told to come hungry, then you have been invited to share a big meal by someone else’s hands. It is an act of hospitality and love. Someone wants to, on purpose, prepare a meal that will satisfy your hunger. You know who always wants us to come hungry so we can be filled? Jesus.
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:33
That is great news! We will not lack spiritually if we dine on His sustaining food. He is speaking of spiritual hunger. What a blessing to have Him to run to when we are spiritually hungry or we want to thank Him for feeding us. As hands prepare a meal in love, so the scars in His hands prove He did the work of preparing a meal that lasts forever and a forever home. With Jesus, we will never be uninvited or hungry or homeless. The Bread of Life and the Living Water that Jesus is will sustain our hearts and souls. Isaiah tells us what the Lord says:
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. Isaiah 55:1-3
Notice above how many times He uses the word ‘come’ and ‘hear’ and ‘give ear’ and ‘listen’ What an invitation we have been given! We can come and receive all that we hunger and thirst for, the good, rich food of the Lord! He spared no expense for us. He gave all that He could possibly give, Himself.
I feel both convicted here and also extremely thankful. The convicted part…Often, I donate money to the needy at the cash register when the cashier asks me. Why? For the same reason Jesus did, because He could and did, because He was asked and there was a need. I feel convicted to carry that thought process to my home and give away what I have extra of. As I tell cashiers when they ask for donations, “Yes, I will give. If I am able to spare a dollar, and someone needs it, shouldn’t I always do it?” This is in NO way a credit to me, but the Lord telling me to be thankful for what I have and be generous with it.
The thankful part”…There was a time when I couldn’t give anything away because I had so little. He has blessed me with what I need to live on and more. Whatever we give out of love for Jesus must be generous, as He was generous with the life He gave. Hospitality towards others is hospitality toward Jesus:
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:40
The Lord put a lot on my heart this morning, so it may seem I got off track, but I just write as He leads my simple brain and heart. The Lord will always feed us what we need. We can, and should, come hungry to Him, wanting to be feed on all His goodness. As a gesture of love to copy His example to us, let’s think about feeding others physically. It is not just at Christmas time that they are hungry. As we are hungry and God blesses us with food, let’s bless Him right back by being generous to others with what we have.
One for the Journal- List a couple people you know that need encouragement. Can you meet their need? A note, phone call or a meal can totally change someone’s day and make them feel loved as the Lord makes us feel loved. What are your spiritual needs? Come to Jesus hungry today, asking for spiritual nourishment you need from Him. It is not selfish to ask for encouragement from Him. He will always give it!
Dear Lord,
Fill our minds today with Your goodness. We may have resisted being generous at times, with what You have given us. Help us to listen to what You need us to hear about coming hungry and feeding the hungry. Help us to give for Your sake as well as for others. Keep prodding us as your sheep to stay on right paths and feed on Your Bread of Life. Thank You for what You did for us on the cross and still do for us. We love You so much! Amen
Love and prayers always,
Just me. Just His.
Tina
Glory in the Morning 