What if Jesus asked you to lunch? I think you’d be excited!
Actually, Jesus has already asked you. Remember he said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
Lunch with Jesus. It’s a simple concept, but it’s powerful. Let me illustrate.
Recently Kristi and I helped the staff members of Baja Christian Ministries (BCM) have a private lunch with Jesus on the beach as part of a three-day spiritual formation retreat. These pastors and missionaries serve the Lord in Mexico. They care for the poor and prisoners. They share the gospel and make disciples to Jesus. They work so hard and give so much to others—they need to be cared for and encouraged too!
Look what Happens when you Make Time for Jesus!
What effect does it have when Christ’s servants set aside a few days for intimacy with Jesus in community? To be guided and encouraged in Scripture, prayer, and soul talk? I wish you could’ve seen the glowing face of Bob Sanders, the President of BCM. He was radiating with the love, joy, and peace of Christ.
There were many testimonies from the retreat that told the same story as Bob’s face. A pastor who was ready to quit her ministry was rejuvenated. Two pastor’s wives who had a falling out were reconciled. Missionaries shared stories of deep wounds and received comfort. Pastors who were serving alone in the frontier opened up to a safe community and received the embrace of Christ.
We’ve seen it time and again: When we are helped to de-stress and open our hearts to Jesus his life flows into us—then it can readily flow through us to other people. “Abide in me and you will bear much fruit,” Jesus promised (John 15:5).
For Bob and his team, it all began with having lunch with Jesus in quiet solitude. It can be that simple for you too. Just you and Jesus in a quiet place, perhaps a beautiful nature setting, sharing a meal and sharing hearts, enjoying being together, perhaps for a few hours or more.
More Soul Shepherding
Your face can glow like Bob’s. You can grow in your intimacy with Jesus. Bob’s testimony in the form of a prayer poem will get you started: “Lunch with Jesus.”
We were able to provide this retreat for the missionaries at no cost to them. That’s because of the generosity of our ministry partners who have caught the Soul Shepherding vision: invest in the care of pastors and you help to advance God’s kingdom in the hundreds of lives that they touch. It’s easy to make a tax-deductible donation to Soul Shepherding.
