This month my team has had the privilege of working a soup kitchen three times a week at the local hospital. The people we are serving are all HIV positive. They come to the clinic for treatment and a hot meal.
Before they go through the line, my team shares a short message with them. After they all have food, we make our way to each person, praying and talking with them.
We give them a large scoop of rice or pap (think really thick grits) and a ladle of soup for lunch. Sometimes before we are even done serving the people through the line the first time, people are already coming back for seconds. Not only do they eat their meals quickly because they are hungry, but also because they have to get back in line for the clinic.
Looking at every person who passes through the line, you can’t help but wonder where their next meal is going to be coming from. They are here because they are hungry, so when will they be fed again?
Sometimes, the poverty of a place can become numbing. You don’t know how to deal with all the hurt you see, so you tell yourself it isn’t that shocking. Other times, the poverty hits you in the gut like a ton of bricks.
You can’t feed everyone’s hungry stomachs.
You can’t give shoes to all the bare feet you see running around on rocky ground.
You can’t clothes all the people way too underdressed for the cold weather.
This was the problem I was up against this month at soup kitchen. What makes a difference? I found myself asking, “Lord, what do you have for me here? If I can’t do all of these things, what can I do?”
His response:
You can feed the people that come through the line, even if it is only a meal. It will give them a full belly for a while.
You can pray with boldness and confidence, expecting me to show up and heal.
You can serve with a loving smile on your face. You don’t know how much difference that can make.
And most importantly, You can share with them the gospel. The bread of life to satisfy their hunger for good.
“Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” John 6:27
It is hard when you see a physical need in front of you that you can only fill for a temporary time. However, what do these people need more than anything?
Jesus.
The most important thing we can give to these people is the gospel. Their bellies will be hungry again, but their spirit will always be filled. Jesus refers to himself as living water that will never run dry. The only condition to have this living water: to be thirsty. All those who come to Jesus will always leave satisfied in the Spirit. He has everything we truly need.
So even when it is hard to see poverty staring me smack in the face, I will not lose heart at what I cannot do. Instead, I will trust that the Lord will provide for them in all the ways that I cannot. I will remember that if I share the love of Christ with someone, they can be filled for much longer than anything in the physical I could do. And the Lord will take care of the rest.
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?
“Yes Lord,” he said, “ you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
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Fundraising update! Only $400 away from being fully funded!! I would love your help finishing out fundraising!
