Devotional thought of the day:

¹⁰ The crowds asked, “What should we do?” ¹¹ John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” Luke 3:10-11 (NLT) 

Simple acts of love, really that is all John the Baptist is encouraging people to do, to show their love for God.  Jesus of course will clarify this, He will make it a clear call to love God, and to love our neighbor, by demonstrating that.

As I read this though, I wondered how John the Baptist would phrase this today.  Would he only talk about physical clothes and physical food, or because the people of God have a far greater treasure, would we be called to share something more valuable, priceless.

Even as we should share of our physical clothes, how much more should we share of our spiritual clothing…

 ²⁵ But now that faith has come we are no longer under a slave looking after us; ²⁶ for all of you are the children of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus, ²⁷ since every one of you that has been baptised has been clothed in Christ. Galatians 3:25-27 (NJB)

And the food – even as we share food baskets with those who have less, isn’t there also a desire that they share in a heavenly feast?  The one Paul talks of here?

¹⁶ The blessing-cup, which we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ; and the loaf of bread which we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ And as there is one loaf, so we, although there are many of us, are one single body, for we all share in the one loaf. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NJB)

We have been given the greatest of treasures, the greatest of blessings, something that is described a the light breaking through the darkness, that which brings hope to the darkest desperation, that which brings love, where the was only hate, life where there was only death.  Should we not share this as well?  Should we not love our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers enough?

I love the way the Roman Catholic Pope said it – in a picture a friend shared this morning on Facebook:  It pretty much sums it up…