Jesus Wants Your Lunch
December 3, 2022 – In: We Are His Witnesses
“None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.” (Isa 59:4)”…we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places” (Isa 59:9-10)
tenderly cared for
Like many of us today, Jeremiah looked around at everything that was going on and God had to sort of stop him in his tracks to say:
“So, Jeremiah, if you’re worn out in this footrace with the people today, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can’t keep your wits during times of relative calm, what’s going to happen when troubles really break loose like the Jordan in flood? Those closest to you, your own brothers and cousins, are working against you. They’re out to get you. They’ll stop at nothing. Don’t trust them, especially when they’re smiling. (Jer 12:5-6, Message) Jesus sounded a similar warning when he said: “I am come to set a person at variance against their father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Many of the children of God have found this to be true, greatly to their sorrow. No foes can wound us so sorely as those of our own household. Or those in our own churches. They get at our hearts, and cut us to the very quick, while others can only give us flesh wounds. But the Bible explains that this is how it will be: Wherever light comes, darkness will be opposed to it. Truth will always find error ready to devour it if it can. Expect this, and half the bitterness of it will be gone when it comes because you did expect it. “To be forewarned” here “is to be forearmed.” One Christian writer has stated it like this: “My trust is in God. I have learned not to be surprised at opposition in any form or from almost any source. I expect to be betrayed, as was my Master, by professed friends. {RH, October 16, 1883 par. 17}”
Many people have asked, “Why are some people in our society today so prosperous? Why are so many others struggling, languishing, just for the basics?” (See, for some examples, Job 21:4-21 and Hab 1:1-4.)
Jeremiah knew that God’s justice would ultimately come, but he was impatient because he wanted justice to come quickly. God didn’t even give a doctrinal answer; instead, God gave a challenge: If Jeremiah couldn’t handle this, how would he handle the injustices ahead that the Bible calls “the time of the end?” It is natural for us to demand fair play and cry for justice against those who take advantage of others. But when we call for justice, we must realize that we ourselves would be in big trouble if God gave each of us what we truly deserve. It is because of the cross that we are not consumed by the state of things. Jesus Himself was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. God’s mercies are new every morning
Life was extremely difficult for Jeremiah despite his love for and His obedience to God. When he called to God for relief,God’s reply was in effect, “If you think this is bad, how are you going to cope when it gets really tough?” God’s answers to prayer are not always nice or easy to handle. Any Christian who has experienced war, bereavement, poverty, or a serious illness knows this. We are to be committed to God even when the going gets tough and when our prayers for relief are not immediately answered.
There are some amongst God’s people today who cannot even afford to buy new shoes for church when they need to, or for gas to drive back and forth to have “fellowship” with all the financially well off ones who don’t give it a second thought. “Inactive” members are sometimes absent for good reasons. Because we wont call people up anymore to see how they are doing. I have spoken to dozens of people in recent weeks who echo similar sentiments. Many people who are still active have expressed concerns that they will go to church and not one person will say hello. I guess this is why the Bible says “the love of many will wax cold,” (Mat 24:12).
As you hear about Christians suffering for their faith, remember that they are your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for them. Ask God what you can do to help them in their troubles. When one part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers. But when all the parts join together to ease the suffering, the whole body benefits (1 Cor 12:26).
With false teaching and loose morals comes a particularly destructive disease—the loss of true love for God and others. Sin cools your love for God and others by turning your focus on yourself. You cannot truly love if you think only of yourself.
Some people near you are homeless today, they will be homeless over what we call “the holidays.” You know, those special times of the year when we act all “generous” to the ones we ignore the rest of the year. And yet, it could be “one of these little ones” that Jesus uses the most. They might have a meager bagged lunch, compared to your big turkey dinner, that they got from someone in society who does care all year long. And then Jesus might just come along anyways and want their lunch! NOT your lunch! With all the fancy trimmings. Jesus may just want their lunch! With as little as they might already have, Jesus specifically might just ask for their lunch. Not the ones whose lunch box is full of all kinds of gourmet delights, and tasty desserts. Jesus just might ask for the most meager lunch in the crowd:
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. (Mat 14:21 KJV) Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed over 5,000 people. What he was originally given seemed insufficient, but in his hands it became more than enough. We often feel that our contribution to Jesus is meager, but he can use and multiply whatever we give him, whether it is talent, time, or treasure. It is when we give them to Jesus that our resources are multiplied. If Jesus ever wants your lunch, just give it to Him and see what he will do!
I can’t believe that sometimes I am audacious enough to just say to Jesus, by my words or my actions: “Hey Lord, when I really want your opinion, Ill just give it to you.” Those of us who bandy about the promises like we have some kind of special spiritual prowess or something can little imagine how much we interfere with the working of The Holy Spirit. None of us are “spiritual giants.” None of us are half as “prepared” as what we keep telling others they “need” to be.
I have had such terrible things happen over the years, and I am seeing a pattern It usually means God is trying to get my attention about something. The Holy Spirit is often waiting to “do a new thing.” (Isa 43:19, 2 Cor 5;17) What I just admitted is simply an outworking of this process. Of current events I am going through now. God is still trying to say something. Do I really want to listen? Or am I just playing along to get an “answer?”
In my experience, when The Holy Spirit is trying to speak, it is rarely about other people. The Spirit is addressing each of us personally today. And I think this might be why the Bible tells us to “examine ourselves” (2 Cor 13:5) and that doesn’t mean examining other people most of the time. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…” (2 Cor 13:5) We must stop ignoring the work of The Holy Spirit. Especially as we try to keep applying this essential work to others, rather than to ourselves, personally. “God’s holy, educating Spirit is in His word. A light, a new and precious light, shines forth from every page. Truth is there revealed, and words and sentences are made bright and appropriate for the occasion, as the voice of God speaking to the soul. {COL 132.2}
The Corinthians were called to examine and test themselves to see if they really were Christians. Just as we get physical checkups, Paul urges us to give ourselves spiritual checkups. “Examine yourselves.” We should look for a growing awareness of Christ’s presence and power in our life. Then will we know if we are true Christians or merely impostors. And then will others also know that we have been with Jesus, who Himself says “By this ALL will know that you are my disciples; if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
The true “warning message” is this: Some day, God is going to reveal the fact to every Christian, that the very principles they now rebel against the most, have been the instruments which He has used in perfecting their characters and molding them into perfection.
Sometimes, our preachers fall into the trap of hurrying everybody up with a flurry of frenetic activity to spread the gospel “while we still can.” I have heard some of our leading ministries hurrying, garnering in extra funds because “this may be our last chance to finish the work.” But God’s work, His Spirit, knows neither haste nor delay. Remember that the Bible tells us that The Spirit will speak “EXPRESSLY” in the last days. My special temptation has often been to perpetual activity, “witnessing” is what I liked to call it. To the exclusion of the time needed for prayer, study, and spiritual meditation. My argument for this keeps telling the same thing: “well people are dying for want of salvation, and we are facing the “final crises” so I have worked away like an idiot, like those poor disciples who sweated and worked all night fishing and never caught a thing. And I did all this “for Jesus.” I know one church who recently had a “revival” series and not one new person came into the church because of it.
But look at what happens in that Bible story where the disciples had been trying all night to catch a fish! In the early morning gray of the dawn, just a few minutes under the direct presence of Jesus had filled the previously empty nets of the disciples that day. (see John 21:26) I cannot help but think how often I have ignored this foundational principle of just listening to Jesus, or waiting (tarrying) for His Spirit, looking for the workings of His Spirit. Of hungering for the filling of His Spirit, as opposed to my own wisdom. The Bible tells us about how the disciples were to literally wait and do nothing until they had personally experienced The Holy Spirit.
I wonder? Have I ever received the Spirit since I first believed? (Acts 19:2) The Holy Spirit is telling us that we cant do anything effective unless we are endued with His presence and His power. Jesus can and will do more through me in just five minutes that he could ever do no matter how great a sermon I preached, or how busy I think I am with “God’s work.”
Although true love begins at the cross; all true Christian service begins at our personal Pentecost. (Rev 12:1-11, 1 John 1;1-3)
Now here is the really disturbing part of our “personal Pentecost.” We may notice here that the disciples were to just wait somewhere that was quite simply, a nasty place to be. Fellow church members were likely telling them the mantra about “getting out of the city.” BUT the disciples were EXPRESSLY told to tarry in Jerusalem, the big city, with it’s babble of voices, and it’s crowded streets. They were not once told to “get out of the cities” and go where its peaceful and nice to wait for The Holy Spirit. No! They were all EXPRESSLY told to wait in the very city that had just crucified their Lord a few weeks previous! It was the city that despised and spurned the very prophets over which Jesus had mourned
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets, and has stoned those I sent out to you; how often would I have gathered your children together, , just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and yet you would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” (Luke 13;34,35)
Jerusalem was the last place in the world where the disciples would have chosen to wait for The Holy Spirit. And this proves that God can and does bless any person, anywhere, anytime. If the people there had just gone into the quiet countryside, away from the crowds, the filth. The people. Out of touch with the crying needs of humanity, the temptation would have arisen to just want to stay parked right there with all their purported “peace and safety.” But Jesus says EXPRESSLY that “…ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall [THEN] be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Legal religion will not answer for this age. We may perform all the outward acts of service, and yet be as destitute of the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit as the hills of Gilboa were destitute of dew and rain. We all need spiritual moisture; and we need also the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness to soften and subdue our hearts. We are always to be as firm as a rock to principle. Bible principles are to be taught, and then backed up by holy practice.–Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 417, 418. {ChS 263.3}
Just remember, when you go out the door this morning have your lunch ready for when Jesus asks for it. God is going to use those of us who have the least, to do the most to finish the work. Legal religion will not answer for this age. We may perform all the outward acts of service, and yet be as destitute of the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit as the hills of Gilboa were destitute of dew and rain. We need spiritual moisture; and we need also the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness to soften and subdue our hearts.–Review and Herald, May 26, 1903. {Ev 169.5}
A legal religion has been thought to be quite the correct religion for this time. But it is a mistake. The rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees is applicable to those who have lost from the heart their first love. A cold, legal religion can never lead souls to Christ; for it is a loveless, Christless religion. When fastings and prayers are practiced in a self-justifying spirit, they are abominable to God. The solemn assembly for worship, the round of religious ceremonies, the external humiliation, the imposed sacrifice– all proclaim to the world the testimony that the doer of these things considers themselves righteous. These things call attention to the observer of rigorous duties, saying, “This person is entitled to heaven.” But it is all a deception.
Denominated religious works are good, in and of themselves, but they will not buy for us an entrance into heaven. The one great Offering that has been made (on Calvary) is ample for all who will believe. The love of Christ will animate the believer with new life. He who drinks from the water of the fountain of life, will be filled with the new wine of the kingdom. Faith in Christ will be the means whereby the right spirit and motive will actuate the believer, and all goodness and heavenly-mindedness will proceed from him who looks unto Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith. Look up to God, look not to other people, and you will become totally “new.” (2 Cor 5:17). God is your heavenly Father who is willing patiently to bear with your infirmities, your weakness, and to forgive and heal them all “in His time.” (Eccl 3;11).
“This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). By beholding Christ, you will become changed, until you will hate your former pride, your former vanity and self-esteem, your self-righteousness and unbelief. You will cast these sins aside as a worthless burden, and walk humbly, meekly, trustfully, before God. You will practice love, patience, gentleness, goodness, mercy, and every grace that dwells in the child of God, and will at last find a place among the sanctified and holy. {1SM 388.1}
George Mueller once wrote:
“For sixty-two years and five months I had a beloved wife, and now, in my ninety-second year I am left alone. But I turn to the ever present Jesus, as I walk up and down in my room, and say, “Lord Jesus, I am alone, and yet not alone– Thou art with me, Thou art my Friend. Now, Lord, comfort me, strengthen me, give to Thy poor servant everything Thou seest he needs.” And we should not be satisfied till we are brought to this, that we know the Lord Jesus Christ experimentally, habitually to be our Friend: at all times, and under all circumstances, ready to prove Himself to be our Friend.”
For the Christians, afflictions cannot injure when blended with submission to our Lord Jesus.
You may even end up just tell Jesus without Him asking:
“Here is my lunch Lord.” It’s not much Lord, but you can have it all.
