Feed the Hungry

Pastors,

I believe that Jesus wanders through the masses, the crowds of people. He is saying, "Who will feed the spiritually hungry?". He is not speaking of those who ate a large meal 4 hours ago. He is speaking of the impoverished who live out of garbage cans. Don't get me wrong. They get a little care and concern. After all, they are good for an occasional photo-op, but few actually care for them as a shepherd cares for his sheep.

In my town, there are at least a couple of very nice buffet-style restaurants. They open their doors at a set time on Sundays. People come in their Sunday best and line up around the corner. The restaurant, the chef, and maybe even the owner obtain a place of praise and honor for their work. I am sure that they endure gossip born from jealousy and they receive criticism from the food experts. It is just business though, and it works well for them.

But when Jesus heard it, He replied, Those who are strong and well (healthy) have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, [readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin). Matt. 9:12-13 (AMP)

Not all, but many pastors draw a reliable salary. It might not be a great deal of money, but it is basically dependable. They work hard for their people, and they congratulate themselves on the sacrifices that they make. It is true that in some places people work the front lines, but someone has to stay home to keep the lights on, right? It is enough to send money to support the front line work. That is biblical, right?

Pastor, if you are where the Holy Spirit has called you to be, that is great. Listen though, to what the Holy Spirit would speak to your heart. What if he has called you to leave your pastoral position? What if he has called you to move to another city, to work as a janitor, and to go love on the homeless people in the park? What if he has called you to be a "nobody"? Oh, not so you can write a book or go back to your congregation in a month to tell them about the plight of the poor.

What if he has called you to live as a nobody, to love nobody's, and to die a nobody, at least in the eyes of everyone who sees you on this planet? The greatest person to ever walk this planet was, "despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him". How much do you want to resemble Jesus?

I tell you that what is seen now as "successful church life" is not going to last forever. The foundations of this current church system are ROTTEN all the way to its stone foundation! Even now, the building sways back and forth. In a moment, it will shatter into a billion pieces. Only then will refreshing and cleansing come. All that man built will be washed away in a moment. Be careful that you are building on the foundation with materials that will not be washed away.