09/09/2019
In our faith we are like children who while babies were fed their mother’s milk, but as they grew were allowed to eat soft cereal, then crushed vegetables, and finally meat. God feeds us the food of our faith as we are able to handle it, but once we are eating the common foods that all believers eat, do we pursue the special and mysterious foods of righteousness, and Jesus Christ, that are fed from God’s hidden kitchen, and shared only with those who ask; only with the few who call out for more?
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Jeremiah 33:3 ESV
God instructed Jeremiah to call out for more, and it should be our desire to receive more as well. we should want to know more than what a casual acquaintance might know, but the hidden secrets that are only shared between the closest of friends. Paul alludes to this growth in faith when he writes to the church in Corinth...
“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 ESV
The Corinthians had been arguing about whether to follow Paul, or Apollos, and Paul writes to tell them that neither he nor Apollos are Jesus, but had just been sent to teach of Him. Paul refers to them as infants who are still not ready for real meat, and as “merely human.”
“For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.”
1 Corinthians 3:4-5 ESV
Do we ever grow past being “merely human”, or do we remain infants? Do we learn to eat our porridge, then our vegetables, and finally grow teeth so that we can chew meat? I hope so because we are not meant to remain babies, nor children, but to grow into adulthood and feed from the table where adults eat the solid foods of faith, and discuss the weightier topics. We are meant to pursue the deeper secrets of righteousness, and we need to develop true relationships with Jesus.
When I was a boy I had many friends at school, and neighborhood, but most of them were merely classmates, or playmates. Our relationships never developed beyond sitting in class together, or a quick game of baseball or tag after school. True friendships take time and effort to grow and maintain. So of all the children I knew, there were only a couple of boys that I considered my true friends. Only a couple who went on expeditions with me into the countryside to explore the secrets of the forest, or who laid on their backs with me in the green fields on warm summer nights looking up at the stars, and talking about our deepest thoughts and secrets. Only a couple would come running if they heard me calling out for them when I was in trouble. This is the relationship God, and Jesus, want to establish with us. They certainly enjoy casual friendships, but their real desire extends much further than that... it involves a total commitment. Jesus emphasizes this when he says...
“And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38 ESV
I watched a man teaching the Bible, and as he taught I looked at the faces of his students. Many of them were looking at their notes, or doing other things, but there were a few whose eyes were fixed on the teacher, and I could see an admiration, and love in those eyes as they followed his every word, and sought the truth in all he said. This class represented a microcosm of our faith. Some of us are just happy to be in class, some simply want to learn the material, others want a high mark on the tests as an achievement, but there are those who are absolutely enthralled with the subject and it’s teacher... to these it is more than just participation, or saying they were first in their class, it is about a love for the subject, and anyone who loves it as much as they do. When Jesus taught, His followers included all of these too, but there were a few who couldn’t get close enough to His feet...
“And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."”
Luke 10:39-42 ESV
Our confidants, and our closest and trusted friends, are those who want to be as near to us as possible. These are those who want to hear our great thoughts and most guarded secrets, and these are the ones that can be trusted to keep them safe. These are those whose feet we want to wash, and who we allow to wash ours.
“Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me."”
John 13:8 ESV
When Jesus traveled His feet were washed in many houses because this was the custom of the time, but when His feet were washed in love it became something much greater...
“And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”
Luke 7:37-38 ESV
And the reward became greater as well. Listen to what He tells Simon about this woman...
“You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."”
Luke 7:46-48 ESV
So we should want much more than to just be called “Christian”, or a bible scholar. We should pursue the title of friend, brother, heir and joint heir, and the child of God. We should call to God and Jesus so that they will tell us the great and hidden things that are reserved for those who love Them with all their heart, soul, and mind. Is this who we are? Is this who we seek to be with our entire being?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for allowing me to become your friend, and to sit at your feet as you teach. See the love and adoration in my eyes Lord because you are my greatest desire, and your Word the key to my relationship with you. Lay with me Holy Father in the Pastures, and on the mountaintops, and share your great and hidden thoughts and truths with me. Look with me into the night sky and tell me of yourself, and your creation. Help me Merciful Father to love you more each day, and to reveal myself to you fully, even as I desire to learn of you. Feed me those new and wonderful foods of heaven, and give me the taste for all that is prepared there. In your house I will share in washing feet with you, and humble myself even as Jesus does. Make my kindness and goodness like yours Lord, and show me the mystery of faith that springs from giving, and love. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God whose mysteries know no end, and whose great and hidden treasures are shared with those you call friends, and who call out to you. Praised be your name for your wisdom, and willingness to be my dearest friend. All glory is yours Gracious Father, because only by your grace am I able to sit before you, and call you ABBA, and wash your feet with my tears. Only you would send your Son Jesus to suffer so greatly for me, and to redeem me with His blood. Praised be your name, and eternal are your hidden treasures.
“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.”
Psalms 25:14-15 ESV
Rich Forbes