After being on the World Race for the past 303 days I have been through some pretty interesting things. Such as the time I had to take a 19 hour train ride to Harbin, China. Or the time I played limp bodies in the back of a Songtao in Thailand. The time our bus got broken into in South Africa. Or even the time I went to Universal Studios Japan. Let’s just say I have been through the good, the bad, and the ugly.
One of the “phrases” as it were on the World Race is to “Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and heal the sick.” I have been able to help be the hands of feet for God in these areas throughout this journey, but now the question that comes is how do I take this a step further when I get home? Yes there is the simple answer of volunteer in a hospital, donate clothes, help out in a soup kitchen. Yet, as I sat on this phrase a bit longer I thought what if there is a much deeper meaning to this then at first glance?
To dissect where I am going we need to break down this phrase a bit.
First, “feed the hungry.” What is the one thing that the Lord says will sustain you and fill you all the days of your life? The Bread of Life. So now the challenge becomes, do the people around you get fed that, or are they still hungry? As brothers and sisters we need to make sure that we aren’t going hungry, hungry for what our soul really needs; not just what our stomach wants. We need to feed the hungry souls of this world and that also means your friend, your mom, your grandpa, or even your next door neighbor.
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:51)
Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”(John 6:34-35)
Second, “clothe the naked.” Yes we can go and give clothes, but I want to dig a bit deeper for us. What if we made sure that those around us were clothes with the grace of God? What if we made sure that they are covered with the love of Christ and they aren’t naked and ashamed?
“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
Lastly, “heal the sick.” The Lord has gifted people with healing and it is awesome to see, but we tend to not see how else we can heal the people around us. Lets choose to heal those who are broken through forgiveness, helping make sure that everyone knows that they can get healing from whatever is weighing them down so that they know that the Lord’s blood covers it all.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24)
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11)
Does this mean I am saying stop doing what you are doing to help those around you? Heck no! What I am saying is that you also look past the physical and into the souls. Because that is where the war is raging, in people’s souls. For we are not here in a physical battle we are in a spiritual one and when healing, being clothed, and getting fed happens in the soul everything changes. So will you join me into this?
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations…” (Isaiah 42:6)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Will you be a light to those around you? Will you help me go deeper and give the bread of life, give the clothing of grace, and the medicine of forgiveness and love to all those around you, including yourself?
“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:10-11)
