I
love Jesus,
Yes
I do!
I
love Jesus,
How
about you!
Fond
memories of standing and cheering those words across a sanctuary wash
over me when I think of how much I do love Him.
Yesterday,
my new phrase to learn in Sena was, “I love Jesus!”
Those
were the words that that started the message He had put in my heart
for the widows and disabled that came for their monthly distribution
of beans, salt and soap. There are some150 people, from six churches,
in even more desperate need than the average Mozambican. Not everyone
showed up and that creates concern, not knowing why they wouldn't
come to receive the much needed food and supplies. There is no way of
knowing if they are sick or injured or if they have left this world
for glory. Someone will go to check on as many as possible, but it
will be days before anyone will know about some.
I
love Jesus because He first loved me and gave His life for me. I love
Jesus because He poured out His blood to pay the ransom for my life.
I love Jesus because His valuation of me, makes me a priceless
treasure in this kingdom of His.
The
message unfolded in the story of Jesus grieving the death of John the
Baptist. He ministered, in compassion, for those who came to Him,
without regard to His own heartache. They had followed him because
their sick were healed, their blind could see, their deaf could hear
and their mute could speak. They followed because the lepers were
cleansed and the dead were raised. They followed because they saw
compassion.
They
followed because of the signs of His love.
That
day He taught them many things. When evening came and it was getting
late, the disciples had a moment of worldly wisdom. In their earthly
compassion they told the Lord to send the people away so they could
eat and rest. But Jesus commanded His disciplined followers to feed
the people themselves. They asked in amazement, if He wanted them to
spend a huge chunk of the budget to feed this 5000 men and who knows
how may women and children? His response was simple.
What
do you have?
How
often, when we ask for a miracle, does the Lord say, “What do you
have?” It seems He can work with any little thing we are willing to
acknowledge exists.
Five
cheap buns and a couple of sardines. But, what is that among so much
need?
It
is enough. Follow directions.
Have
the people sit down and relax. Bless the food. Break it. And pass it
along.
When
everyone has had their fill, pick up the leftovers. You'll have more
than when you started.
My
God is the God of more than enough.
A
miracle of provision, from a heart of love, produced a people seeking
a king for daily provision.
This
King wanted to fill their hearts so that their stomachs would never
hunger.
Jesus
had to slip away so that they wouldn't make Him an earthly king, by
force. The next day when they found Him again, He said, “Truly,
Truly, I tell you, you do not seek me because you saw signs, but
because you ate of the bread and were filled. Do not work for food
which perishes, but for food which endures to eternal life, which the
Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His
seal.”
The
people then asked, “What shall we do so that we may work the works
of God?”
Jesus
answered, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him
Whom He has sent.”
The
people then wanted another sign in order to
believe in Him.
There
is a grief that strikes my heart when I hear people say this today.
People who have been followers of Jesus and have witnessed His
compassion and His love, and yet it's never enough. They refuse to
believe that He is Who He says He is and that He has accomplished all
that He said He accomplished. Statements like, “I know that He can,
but He chooses not to...” They look at the need in their life and
require yet another sign before they will believe that He is true.
Romans
3:3 & 4 tells us that even if some do not believe, their unbelief
does not change the faithfulness of God. Rather, they are expected to
allow God to be true and every man to be a liar. It is vital that we
believe that God is true and that men who speak opposite of His word
are liars.
Some
people only want to follow Jesus for what they can receive in their
hand, but reject the invitation to intimacy that provides what can
only be received in their spirit. They fail to realize that following
Jesus and seeking His hand will fill them for the moment, but
tomorrow they will be hungry again. It is only in seeking Him,
because He is, that they will be satisfied and never hunger.
The
heart that is hungry for Him will find His Word to be life and health
to them. A heart that hungers for Him will soon discover that He is
the way, the truth and the life that they seek. The integrity of The
Word will be revealed and they will cease to speak lying accusations
of the Lord of Glory. No more will they accuse Him of not being
willing to manifest His promises in their lives. No more will they
deny the work accomplished on the Cross of Calvary. Instead, they
will truly believe that He is and that He rewards them as they
diligently seek Him.
The
question to the group yesterday was simple, “Have you come here
today to receive what you can hold in your hand, or have you come to
receive what can only be held in your heart?”
One
will fill your belly today, but tomorrow you will hunger again. The
other will satisfy completely and there will always be more than
enough.
With
His Heart,
Kimberly
He
has filled the hungry with good things!
Luke
1:53
