34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. - John 4:34
As we get closer to the day, set aside for giving thanks, I’m sure there are some out there already preparing some of those favorite dishes. Though depending on how your family is choosing to keep safe and/or socially-distant this year, it might have been the year you finally shared that secret recipe. Just because we may not be together, shouldn’t keep us from those moments of comfort in the food that we love to share. I know my wonderful wife, Samantha, will still make some of her delicious chocolate-chip cookies (I’ve already had a sample batch), and hopefully in the future we can share those with you.
When I think about the food aspect of this season, I often think that it’s the beginning of something great, as we typically share more times together whether, dinners, parties, get-together, but many of those may be cancelled this year. or maybe we’ve found a way to connect online and hold these gathering together yet apart. I know I’m thankful for the opportunities to “see” my family through online means, even when they aren’t able to come into town.
Though we love the food and gatherings of this season, the words of Jesus remind us that there is something that has not changed this year. The work that we do for the kingdom of heaven, the way we give thanks for the great many blessings we have received, the sharing of the gospel, all are things that we do as the church, and while the way we do these things may have changed, we continue to work to dot the will of God as we focus on sharing in the ministry of Jesus Christ. As we have been called to be like Christ, we are asked to eat the food of service to God’s will. I know that may sound more like work than relaxation, however, this is the will of God – to show love and compassion to the needy, to humble ourselves as we sustain the orphaned and the widowed, to welcome the stranger. In that position of gratitude in service, we find that this season may ring a little differently. I think we can still do some wonderful things this year, as we reach out to our neighbors, offers words and acts of kindness, as sending out notes of encouragement. We may never know how the comfort and love of God is working through us. Yet, a life in Christ is a life of gratitude through giving in the way grace has been giving to us. So eat, drink, be merry, and go forth and share the merriment of Christ love with all whom you greet.
Grace & Peace,
Sam