A Pot and a Spoon
Some of my dear friends have a food ministry in which they prepare and serve hot meals to the community. The ministry started very small. To quote my friend, “We started with a pot and a spoon.”
I can’t get that “pot and spoon” out of my mind.
The ministry has grown quite a bit since. Now there are several pots and spoons, more hands to use the spoons, and even a canopy tent to keep them out of the weather. But it had to start somewhere.
It started with a pot and a spoon.
I tried to preach tonight on “What’s In Your Hand?”. I read from the story of Moses how he didn’t think that anyone would believe that He was from God (Exodus 4), so God asked him what was in his hand. Moses is commanded to cast down the staff, which becomes a serpent, before becoming a staff again when Moses grabbed the serpent by the tail.
The moral of the story, I think, is that Moses was already equipped to do what God had called him to do. I’m not referring to the staff, it wasn’t magic or otherwise special, Moses was equipped with God. Just as David was well equipped to take on Goliath even before he went to the brook to gather stones.
“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
I’m thankful for my friend’s pot and spoon, but she had the main ingredient before going to her cabinets. She had a love for God and people, and a desire to serve both.
I’ve been out to help in their ministry, and I’ve been blessed by what I have seen and heard. I’ve heard the gospel shared. I’ve seen people weep and share their burdens with strangers. I’ve seen people praise God in tears for food. I’ve seen, heard, and prayed many prayers. I’ve been hugged by a total stranger. I have even seen a man from a completely different culture and religion open his heart and help the ministry in more ways than one. Most of all I can honestly say that I have seen a difference made in people’s lives.
And to think, it all started with a pot and a spoon… and a little bit of love.
So what’s in your hand? Or cabinets?
God has already given you what you need to serve him and others.
Be a good steward of His grace.
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”
God bless!
