Apr 19
16
DEALING OUR BREAD TO THE HUNGRY
By only the constraint of Christ’s love for us, believers deal our bread
to the hungry by telling others how Christ broke our yoke by bearing our
sins on the cross. We bring the poor to our house—Christ’s church—to
hear the good news of our Redeemer. The gospel is the means God has
chosen to reveal that Christ is the covering for the nakedness of his
people. (1 Cor 1: 21) Beholding what great things Christ has done for us
in his great mercy and grace, we rejoice to show mercy rather than deal
harshly with others. When others deal harshly with us, Christ makes his
child remember how mercifully and kind Christ deals with us constantly.
He says, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Eph 4: 32);
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Col 3: 13)
Also, believers take the physical burdens off others anyway we can. We
literally give them bread and a coat and whatever they need. Christ does
it for us every day. He says to every believer, “And seek not ye what ye
shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind…your
Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the
kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not,
little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the
kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which
wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief
approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.” (Lu 12: 29-33)
To rest in Christ from all our works, to use everything he has given us
to promote his gospel, to sacrificially seek the good of his people, all
the while trusting that Christ has and shall provide everything we need
here and hereafter, this is living by faith, motivated only by Christ’s
love.
Clay Curtis.