God's Pantry

It was a beautiful day in Florida. The parking lot of a small community church was filled with cars as people arrived to pick up groceries from its food pantry. Local college students had poured in to help with the packing and distribution of the groceries.

Needless to say, hands and feet were hard at work blessing the many people who came to the pantry that day. Little did I know that God was about to speak to me in a manner as clear as that beautiful sky.

I was working with the other volunteers, going back and forth to the parking lot to help people load the groceries into their cars. Out of the blue, I heard a simple phrase that still comes to the surface of my thoughts from time to time, causing me to reflect on the wonders of Jesus.

In the book of Mark, after Jesus discusses the two greatest commandments, the Bible tells us:

The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” (Mark 12:32-33 NLT)

Jesus recognized the man’s understanding and told him,

“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34)

As I carried groceries on that warm summer day in Florida, I heard the Holy Spirit with such clarity: “These people do not realize that the kingdom of God has come near them.”

It’s incredible how the kingdom of God was real that day at the church the same way it was present during the time of Jesus and remains today. So many people were around Jesus when He walked the earth, but many did not recognize Him and what He brought—the kingdom of God.

Be encouraged today that the Holy Spirit indwells His people. We have direct access to God’s “pantry” and everything we need because of what Jesus did on the cross. We are equipped to love others, revealing the kingdom of God.

My prayer for us today is that we grow more in understanding the depth of the love Jesus has for us and that, in turn, our eyes will be open to the opportunities to better love those around us—in the hope that some will recognize the kingdom of God is near them. After all, humankind is created in the image of God, and He loves all of His creation.

Let’s remember that we love Him because He first loved us! May this become more real than ever before, as God clothes us in His glory and prepares us for the great harvest on the horizon. May we take the opportunity to love others in the manner that Jesus loves us.