God speaks through simple things; when we pause to listen, we are blessed.
My wife and I decided to prepare a meal for a couple who are friends. The wife has been doing double duty to care for her husband while he recovers from surgery. We made a large casserole, an apple pie, added a large bag salad and a bag of Portuguese rolls. I decided to include a jar of my homemade pineapple-orange marmalade, since I had just made a new batch, but I noticed two jars from the previous batch, still very tasty, so I set one on the counter. Later, I passed by and noticed the jar, and a Scripture verse came to mind.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40, NIV.)
I exchanged the older marmalade jar for one from the new batch. I realized there was more to understand from this, and perhaps the Spirit wanted to tell me something.
We delivered the meal, and our friends later told us they enjoyed three dinners from the food we brought, and asked us for the casserole recipe! They said it was a relief not to have to think of what to fix for dinner for a few days.
This blog chronicles my efforts to listen to God speaking through simple, everyday things. In my humble opinion, many blessings come from this. Readers won’t return if they’re not receiving something for their effort, so if you choose to, I invite you to learn along with me. I want to see God’s fingerprint in common experiences, hear what His Word says about them. It takes diligent practice to open one’s heart to the Spirit’s leading in this area, and I have a way to go.
Back to the jar of marmalade, which I dubbed it the “Jesus jar,” recalling Matthew 25:40. Another verse came to mind.
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much” (Luke 16:10, NASB.)
This verse reminds me to stay thankful and humble. I heard Dr. Robert Jeffress say, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” I remember the acronym from my youth group, JOY, for “Jesus, others, and then yourself.”
There have been times when I’ve wondered if I have fallen short of God’s best intentions for my life. I consider II Corinthians 5:10, one of the more troubling verses in the Bible. I wanted to serve as a missionary doctor. I have a special compassion for the poor people of Appalachia, and the medical needs of the poor in general. When I became a nurse, and served most of my career among factory workers. Did I fall short?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts. We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly for the highest good. . . . We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet, really not small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?” (Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community)
Most of our daily lives consist of small, common things, and God loves us just as much in those ordinary times, as on the hilltop. God loves every one of those factory workers I served, and He blessed me through my days with them in so many ways.
If I don’t notice simple things, a child’s laugh, the soft light before sunset, or the aroma of oven bread, how can I see the needs of those around me? Will I hear God’s still small voice? Will I show compassion instead of indifference?
Mother Teresa said, “Man’s greatest sin is not hatred, but indifference to one’s brothers.”
In Mathew 5:46, Jesus said, “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
People use the term “woke,” and think this is some new insight. Christ’s redeemed have been woke for two thousand years. It takes effort to put aside indifference, and notice others, a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, or even a stranger. Though I have a way to go, I have hope. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Philippians.
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6, NLT.)
I thank God for this day, silent time with my Bible, a call or email from a friend, warm covers on a cold night, the flicker of firelight, a brief talk with a neighbor by the mailbox, and his gray cat lurking in our garden. I thank Him for the opportunity to take a meal to a friend recovering from surgery.
And for a jar of marmalade.
Selah.