Mark 7
GATHER AND WATCH

“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus and saw…” (Mark 7 v 1 – 2).

When people are jealous or there is a scandal in the air, the people at the centre of attention are watched very carefully. Often their backgrounds are researched so that as much dirt as possible can be dug up about them to make the picture as dark as possible.

The Pharisees were doing the same to Jesus. They had gathered around him to watch and to see what dirt they could pick up about this upstart preacher from Galilee.

It is interesting that we don’t gather around good people to find out how good they are, and dig into their past to discover the other good things they have done, but maybe we should. Let’s start with Jesus. If the Pharisees could watch him from a negative point of view, then let us gather around Jesus to learn of all the greatness of the coming King of Israel.

May we learn from Jesus this week.

With love in our Lord,
Robert
www.thinkythings.com/read

Food is Love

Shobi, Makir and Barzillai “brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, ‘The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.’” (2 Samuel 17 v 28 – 29).

When each of my parents passed away, there were people who turned up on our doorstep with meals and baking. They took time out of their busy schedules to make and deliver food to us.

It was not, of course, because I was incapable of cooking, or had no food in the house. It was merely because food is one of the ways we speak love, support, sympathy and blessing to people.

What a blessing it was! It was a comfort; I felt loved. It was a help because I didn’t need to think about making meals over that time. Instead, we could concentrate on the task of organizing a funeral, grieving our loss and spending time with visiting relatives.

The men who arrived to minister to David and his company had that effect. They were mindful that the people would be hungry, exhausted and thirsty out in the wilderness. They arrived laden with helpful items and lots of food. This act of love would have refreshed the tired, hungry people with David. It would have been a wonderful boost to their flagging spirits and low morale.

Let us not underestimate the power of simple blessing, shown through food and practical help. It is one of the languages of love.

Appreciative of the love that’s been shown through food in my lifetime,

Sharon.
http://www.thinkythings.com/sharon/