Today’s Scripture: 2 Kings 4:42, Matthew 14:17, 15:34
It’s interesting that the Old Testament story gives a full description of the bread—“. . . barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. . .” In the New Testament accounts, however, the description is just plain ol’ bread.
I wonder if we can become so spiritually gussied up that we think we don’t need the Lord’s help as much. He, on the other hand, is looking for the plain and simple—and willing.
My mother had a magnetic personality. She was genuine and sincere. She listened, she cared, she mentored, and she taught. My mother loved like no one else I know, and she was generous to a fault. As we were growing up, it wasn’t unusual for my siblings and me to come home from school and find strangers being fed at our kitchen table.
My mother never attended college or leadership training. She had no title in front of her name, and no initials behind her name to denote education and accomplishments. But she faithfully taught the teen Bible class in church for years. The students loved her so much that once one of them remarked, “I hope I fail my senior year so I don’t have to leave your class.”
Several years ago, I was asked to serve as interim youth leader at our church. This was new territory for me, so naturally I called the best youth expert I knew—Mom. “What should I do?” I panicked. “I’ve never been a youth pastor.” She revealed her secret— “Just love them. If you love them, they’ll know you care.” It was by far the best advice anyone could have given me.
Plain ol’ love. And it works!
- What would it take for you to become “plain bread”? What fanciness would you have to give up?
- How difficult is it for you to show love to unlovable people? Are you willing for the Lord to change you so you can?