Lunchbox

I doubt they will remember this but when my kids were little and I would pack their lunches, I would often times enclose a note. Just something like: "have a great day", "enjoy lunch", or "do something nice for someone", etc. I never did get much feed back and most probably many of them were tucked away or tossed out without even reading them or even perhaps hidden because they may have been an embarrassment in front of their peers, because really: a note from your mom at lunch. At some point that would seem pretty babyish.

So when Pam began her bible study lesson about the menu and included an example of a note tucked in the lunchbox, she caught my attention with full focus. She told a story of little first grade girls at lunch. When they sat down and opened their lunch boxes, one had a spread of all good things, fruit, a sandwich molded by a cookie cutter design, and even twinkies, while the friend sitting beside her had brussel spouts, hummis, and rice cakes. (These were not her examples...except for the twinkie) Anyway you get the drift. Her point was that God packs our lunch boxes for what he purposes for our lives; individually and personally. And no matter what he packs in our boxes, he always leaves a note, and that note is the most significant part of the packing. But two many times we are so hungry for immediate gratification, that we bypass the note and focus solely on the tangible offerings that the situations of the day bestows.

Then, not only do we get consumed in out own box of life packed offerings or adversities, but we begin looking around at the one sitting beside us and wanting what she has instead of what we have. I mean she has twinkies. But she goes back to the note. God's word. For no matter what our day is packed with, God's word is sufficient to help us be strengthened, to help us endure, to help us survive, to help us be discerning, and to fill us with His prevailing goodness.

About the note: God's word. The Heavenly Menu.

1) God's word is true/reliable - The ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether (Psalm 19:9) Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. (John 17:17)
2) The word of God gives blessings - Blessed are those who keep thy testimonies. (Psalm 119:2)
3) The word of God is powerful - Prayer changes things. (Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer which breaks teh rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29; Isaiah 55:10-11)
4) The word of God is pure - The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver refined in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. (Psalm 12:6) I loved this one because she gave the example of how so many times we are drawn into the word of the media, which is tainted and we become tainted, God's word is true.
5) God's word is eternal - The word of the Lord lives forever. (I Peter 1:25, Psalm 119:160 Have to ask, am I making a difference for eternity?
6) God's word is encouraging - The Law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul. (Psalm 19:7)
7) God's word is joyful. Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but thy commandments are my delight. (Psalm 119:143, 16, 92, 111, 174; 19:8)
8) God's word is strengthening - my soul melts away fro sorrow; strengthen me according to thy word. ( Psalm 119:28)
9) God's word is hopeful - I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in thy words. (Psalm 119:147, 43, 74, 81)
10) God's word is comforting - This is my comfort in my affliction, that thy word gives me life. (Psalm 119:50)
11) God's word is a guide - Thy word is lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. ((Psalm 119:105)
12) God's word is our salvation - It saves us - "Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek the statutes. (Psalm 119:155)

God's has written a note to each of us that guides, comforts, strengthens, gives us hope, encourages and helps us find joy. His eternal light of love shines upon us as we open up his offerings for us this day. We might not be tickled with what he has packed, and as a matter of fact we might want to keep the lid on the day because we have lost an appetite for further engagement with people or activities. It might not look good but God will use it for our Good and his honor. Oh but God has a plan and a purpose for that which he has packed and if we will just trust in his word and step forth in faith, he will help us swallow the fears, the adversities, and the tainted fares and digest them in the confines of his grace and authority.

It is not in the circumstances that we are to feed, but on God's word, for that is the meat of our meal. He has packed a note for us that is specific for the offerings of this day. It is our choice to read it and embrace it or ignore the gravity of love for which it stands, and let it fall to the floor in disregard. He is the bread and the wine and the sacrificial lamb. God has prepared a place for us through his son. (1 Peter 1:19-20) Jesus himself is the meat of the meal and he wants us, in trust, to partake in what he has given us in this day. He is the one who has planned our menu, but even greater, he is the one who has written the note that we are to hold tight to and trust him at his word.

Just consider the lunchbox...I suspect that most of you have packed many of them for the kids. Your lunches may not have been held to the high esteem of the neighboring friend, oh but the lunch you packed, you packed with the intent for the child to not go hungry. God wants us to be hungry for his word, to open our day seeking first the note, His note, and then looking at the contents. But too often we are distracted by the contents and the importance of His word becomes a fading priority. If we consciously choose to make his word our priority, then the contents become the faded priority because we will know that nothing comes to us or is given to us without first being run through the sieve of God. And since he has allowed it or packed it, he will graciously distribute it, and give us the strength, courage and wisdom to encounter it, according to his purposes and unto his glory and honor.

Dear Lord, thanks for the note. Thanks for nudging me to open my heart and read your word, and seek your will. Please guide my thoughts so that I may be able to memorize, obey and share the truth that you have graciously placed within me. Amen