A Prayer to See the Eternal Significance of Providing a Meal
By Laura Bailey
Bible Reading
“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
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A lost loved one … take a meal
A new baby … take a meal.
A deployed spouse … take a meal.
A broken heart … take a meal
A stumped toe … take a meal
Admittedly, the last statement is an exaggeration, but not by much... Growing up Southern means that taking a meal to others in need is as natural as breathing; it’s just something we do.
Have you ever lost your job?
Have you ever suffered from a chronic, debilitating disease?
Have you ever felt so lonely that all you could do was cry?
Having someone knock on your door with dinner in arms makes you feel like your guardian angel has just arrived. Bodies demand daily nourishment, and the simple act of delivering food to someone could be a direct answer to earnest prayers. Even in less dire situations—like after having a baby— it is such a blessing to simply focus on the baby and recovery without meal planning, trips to the store, and cooking. The gracious gift of a prepared meal (homemade or store-bought) allows new mothers more time with their newborn and other family members, precious moments they can never get back.
Made from scratch, delivery, or drive-thru? Do not let the fact that you are not “Betty Crocker” deter you from delivering a meal. It does not always need to be a complete dinner or hot meal. Submarine sandwiches or take-out are welcome anytime. And frozen meals or soup? Yes, please! When the only thing an overwhelmed mother has to do to feed her hungry crowd is open her freezer door, she is grateful beyond words.
Even in our hectic, self-centered world, little personal sacrifice is required to spend five minutes or less in a drive-through or to pick up an online meal order to lift someone’s spirits. The enemy, Satan, wants to prevent us from blessing someone with this act of kindness and to rob us of the joy that comes from giving to others. Don’t allow that. Stop making excuses and start obeying Christ. Do not underestimate the power of providing just one meal for someone who is lonely, hurting, or grieving. Doing so tells people that they are not alone in their suffering, that their Heavenly Father hears and sees them, and so do you. They matter.
The Lord does not excuse our excuses: we don't have the time, we don't have the money, we don't have the culinary skills, etc. Ask God to change this mentality and refocus, looking outward instead of inward at self, for this is not just about food; it's about following in the steps of the one who fed the masses because he was moved with compassion and served supper to his disciples after humbly washing their feet. It is about showing the love of Christ and being the hands and feet of our Savior to those around us, saved and lost. It's about looking beyond ourselves and checking our personal comfort in at the door, sacrificing for others as Christ did for us.
If God did not spare his only son to come live among us and then lay down his life for us, surely we can grab a casserole and a bagged salad, pack the kids in the car, and take a meal to someone, even if it means giving up a few Happy Meals to make someone else a little happier. Remember, our actions, not our well-meaning intentions, demonstrate the love of our Heavenly Father.
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, let us remember that serving others is ultimately serving You. When we see someone in need of clothes, food, shelter, or simply a shoulder to cry out or an ear to listen, let us step in and be those people. What a privilege and honor that we, Your children, get to be co-laborers in your Kingdom. We are the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. Let us remember that the time and resources to acknowledge someone else's needs are far more important than what’s in the casserole dish. Let us be ever ready to meet the needs of others by providing a meal. And while we feed their physical bodies, let us lift up their souls to receive the bread of life.
We love you, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/JohnnyGreig
She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and three young girls, where she serves as director of women's ministries at her church. Her passion is teaching the Bible to women, equipping them to live with an eternal perspective. Invite Laura to speak at your next event or learn more: www.LauraRBailey.com
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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