Food Fellowship and Faith

We are instructed in many places to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. We are instructed, however, in Isaiah, a very poignant scripture, Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 29. I'd like to read that to you from the New King James Version about keeping the feast. Isaiah 30 and verse 29. You shall have a song. This is Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 29. You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept and gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute to come into the mountain of the Lord to the mighty one of Israel. We are instructed to go to keep the Feast of Tabernacles with joy. And Satan wants to rob us of that joy for a very specific reason. He wants to take the vision of what our mission on this earth is completely away from you so that you will lose heart and lose track of where you are and what you're doing. He doesn't have to convince you that God doesn't exist or not to keep the Sabbath. He just has to take your eye off the mark. And God instructs us to go no matter what you're going through and keep the Feast with joy. Regarding the Holy Days, Moses in Deuteronomy 12 and verse 5 instructs us by command to go.

Deuteronomy 12 and verse 5, But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses out of your tribes to put his name for his dwelling place, and there you shall go. Where does God put his name? Well, God in Moses' time assigned a priesthood, and they would set the place, and the place would change over time. That place, when they were wandering in the wilderness, was a tabernacle that went with them. And then that place ended up in Shiloh, and then it was moved to Jerusalem. And the place geographically located wasn't as important as where God put his name. We read in the book of Hebrews that God transferred authority to the ministry, and the ministry places the name at Feast of Tabernacle sites all around the world. You go to a Feast of Tabernacle site, and that is where God has placed his name. So we're instructed to go. If you can go, go. Now, there are reasons why you cannot go. And we see when we read about Hannah, Samuel's mother, there was a time when she could not go. She was not condemned for that. Otherwise, if there is not a legitimate reason, if it's just, oh, I don't feel like it, oh, I have to work, oh, I have a new job, or whatever, I know all of the—I've been through that before. The command is go. Go. There's a reason Satan doesn't want you to go. There's a reason Satan wants to take your eye off the joy that comes from the Feast of Tabernacles. And one of those reasons, and one of the boosts that we get at the Feast of Tabernacles is that we fellowship with each other while we rejoice. And it's—the instruction is actually very specific on how we're supposed to rejoice. So in Deuteronomy chapter 16 and verse 13, I've got a lot today, so I'm probably going to go through, get your pins ready if you do take notes. I probably won't wait for you to turn to the Scripture. We're just going to get it up on the screen that's right up above me, and we're going to move through this. Deuteronomy chapter 16 and verse 13. You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, and when you have gathered from the threshing floor and from your winepress, you shall rejoice in your feast. What an amazing God! We are actually commanded to have a good time.

Commanded to not go and be a bump on the log, but commanded to go and be thrilled like someone who plays a flute, says in Isaiah, as though it was like a dance party.

You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son, your daughter, and notice all the fellowship that's supposed to go on. It's a whole family thing, but it's not just the family. Look at this. Your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep the feast sacred to the Lord your God in a place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you and all the produce and all the work of your hands so you will surely rejoice. There's three elements that are listed in that scripture. Three elements that are listed, and that's food, fellowship, and faith, and we'll get to that. Let's go to Deuteronomy 14 in verse 22. Deuteronomy 14 now in verse 22. You shall truly tithe the increase of your grain in the field and the produce year by year, and you shall eat, there's the food, before the Lord your God in a place where he chooses to make his name abide. And so we go fellowship with God. The tithe of your grain and the new wine and your oil and the first born of your herds and your flocks. Why? That you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. And that word fear essentially means respect, and it is synonymous with faith or trust.

So there are three components that I want to convey that we just read in those instructions through those scriptures. The festivals are about attaching ourselves to God or fearing God, fellowshiping or attaching ourselves to people, and rejoicing, specifically rejoicing with food. So we are to go before God with people and eat good food. Food, fellowship, and faith.

They're God's festivals. We go into his presence. His name is there. And that is the center of our teaching. Our focus is on God. His presence, his name is there, and he is the center of our teaching at the feast. People of God are there also, but don't neglect food. You know, you're going to hear sermons and you're going to hear messages most likely to say, hey, look, food is not everything. Don't be a glutton. Don't be a drunk. And all of that is true. But also, on the same token, don't neglect the food. The food is commanded and for a very good reason, that we do not take our eye off of the good things that are coming. It's an object lesson. It's prominently mentioned. So during the feast, what should our focus be? On rejoicing with other people, eating food, talking about God. It's pretty simple. So food, fellowship, and faith. Why do we focus on food, fellowship, and faith? What is the point of this object lesson? It's so that we become like God, so that we may be called the children of God. Who is God? How is God? What is he like? What are we supposed to be coming like when we go to the feast and have food, fellowship, and faith? Leviticus 11, verse 45, describes God. It says, For I am the Lord who brings you up from the land of Egypt, which is an analogy for bringing us out of sin, for rescuing us from death. He says, I am the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You therefore be holy, for I am holy. Holy or set apart, special, not part of this world, in other words. What attribute is God looking for that will make us like him? What is your mission? This is a continuation of what I talked about on trumpets, where I asked us all to be patient with each other. We're going to talk about some more of our attributes today that we need to focus on. What are you supposed to get out of food, fellowship, and faith at the feast? Well, you're supposed to learn to love other people as God loves. That means we are supposed to learn to repay no evil for evil. We are actually supposed to learn to overcome our human nature, which by nature repays evil for evil. That is who we are. How does God view mankind? We know that he's disgusted at man's evil heart. We know, and we'll read some scriptures that say that, he won't even deal with the evil. We know that God will punish the whole world before Jesus Christ returns to the earth. But we also know that his punishment is for their good. It's to get their attention that in the end they might be saved.

John 3 and verse 16. It's not just a cliche that's quoted at football games. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. That is God's perspective. Verse 17. For he did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. He didn't send us into the world, or Jesus Christ into the world, excuse me, that everybody might die while they're doing evil, so I'm going to do evil to them. He flipped it and did the opposite. He did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Yes, of course, there's personal responsibility before that happens. There's repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ. It's through him that people might be saved. But how does God view other people? And therefore, how are we supposed to view other people? What are we supposed to get out of food, fellowship, and faith?

I want to read a story to you from USA Today. This happened this year in Dallas. It's recent and it's relevant. I watched this video. It actually choked me up because they brought a baby out, lifeless, out of water. And then listen to this story. Dear Jesus, please let this baby breathe is the title of it. An incredible moment in the Texas family is rescued from a flood. This is from USA Today, May 1, 2017. Heartwrenching video shows a group of Good Samaritans rescue a Texas family caught in a violent storm on Saturday. Tom Mitchell told WFA-TV that he was driving near Myrtle Springs, Texas when he spotted a flipped truck surrounded by water. Lacking the strength to help with the rescue, he shot the video as the group of people freed the father and two young children from the overturned vehicle. Mitchell told WFA-TV that the baby was pulled from the vehicle, was limp, and appeared to be turning bluish gray. This is actually shown on the raw film because he was shooting this on his camera. People were running into this rapid water and getting swept away and having to grab somebody else's belt just not to get washed away, and then trying to rip the doors of this overturned truck. It had flipped over in the water, and this father and two babies were in it. And these were big guys! And they were reefing on those doors and couldn't get them open, and finally they'd get them open. But minutes had passed by, and they pulled these children out. One of them was in a car seat, and the baby they just had over there. And oh, it was so heart-wrenching! That baby was just limp. And then I'll read on. So Mitchell told WFA-A the baby was pulled out of the vehicle, was limp, and appeared to be turning bluish gray. No color at all in his eyes were not focused when I looked down at her, Mitchell told WFA-TV. Mitchell put his phone in his pocket and started CPR on the baby. This baby's gonna die if we don't get to start CPR fast, Mitchell said. Having a negative feeling come over him, this baby may not make it. This baby may not make it. No reaction. Nothing is happening. And in the video, so he has his phone in his pocket, but it's still recording. So in the video, a woman prayed over Mitchell's shoulder as he continued this CPR on the baby. Dear Jesus, please let the baby breathe. The woman said in the video, Dear Jesus, please let this baby breathe. And Mitchell said after the first prayer, he felt a response in the child. Mitchell and the other Good Samaritans turned their attention to the toddler, who they had also revived. And Mitchell said he felt compelled to share the video because it shows people working together. Now, I'm sharing the story because the lady was praying over his shoulder. Now, these people may or may not have known the truth that you know it. They probably don't keep the Sabbath and they're not going to go to the Feast of Tabernacles. How does God feel about them? All she had to do was say, Jesus, please help this baby breathe. And boom, the baby breathes. How do you think God feels about them? A social media post later said that the toddler was doing well. Still in pretty critical condition, but they did recover as far as I understand. So did they understand the truth? Did they have to understand the truth for God to love them? No. God did not turn a deaf ear to their plea, did he?

So what is God's perspective on mankind? And the real question is, what is your perspective on mankind as a result? God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that through him, the world might be saved. So what I want to do in the balance of the sermon is talk about that perspective that you and I are supposed to gain by going to the Feast and having good food and fellowship and faith. What's the point? The point isn't just to go have good food, fellowship, and faith. There's actually an end result that's supposed to happen. And Peter talks about that in 2 Peter, chapter 3 and verse 8. 2 Peter 3 and verse 8. And he says, But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that the Lord one day to the Lord one day is a thousand years and a thousand years as as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. And again, Peter throws in that personal responsibility. Yes, it's a free gift, but there's something you have to do. You have to repent. Let's notice Peter's instruction. Let's go back to his first epistle now. 1 Peter, chapter 3 and verse 9. I'm going to read this one from the New Living Translation. 1 Peter 3, verse 9. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do. You hear that? That is what God has called you to do. Why do we go to the feast and have good food and fellowship and faith so that we learn not to repay evil for evil, but blessing when we're insulted? For the scripture says, verse 10, if you want to enjoy life and see happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace and work to maintain it. It says in the King James, seek peace and pursue it. Don't just look for it. Hunt it down. 12. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. Why would Peter say that? Why would he give an encouragement after saying, don't retaliate? Because he's talking about being mistreated or feeling like you're being mistreated. And what do you do in response? You don't worry. God's going to protect you. If you follow him, and if you become like him, and if you have his perspective, he will retaliate on your behalf in a loving way to bring people to repentance. And that's a win-win. And when we retaliate, it's a lose-lose. We don't gain back what we lost, and now the other person loses also. Now we're both sitting in a pile of ashes, both having lost, because we fought with each other and we retaliated. But when we don't, God intervenes and he protects us. And he helps the other person as well. And even if that helping the other person is punishment, it still protects them. If you look at it from a big picture point of view. So doesn't that make sense? Peter says, don't retaliate and don't worry. God's got your back.

The Lord, the eyes of the Lord, watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who just do evil. He will take care of it! Verse 13. Now who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? In other words, you're probably not going to get into a fight, or you're going to get into far fewer fights if you were just eager to be a peacemaker anyway. So Peter says, you're going to solve most of your own problems without God even intervening. And then he says, verse 14, but even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as the Lord of your life. And if someone asks you about your Christian hope, says in the King James, the hope that lies within you, always be ready to explain it.

But do this in a gentle and respectful way.

Keep your conscience clear. We need to be respectful of other people, including people who are not in the church, people who don't have the hope. We are supposed to be gentle and respectful. Not club them over the head because they don't keep the Sabbath. Try to shame them into the gospel. It's not a gospel of shame. You're not supposed to go out in the world and preach the gospel by clubbing people with a hammer. You're a light. You're a light to the world. You're not a hammer in the arm of God.

Then, if people speak against you, continue on in verse 16. If people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. So, the whole reason you were called was to overcome this internal need to repay evil for evil. When someone harms you, you harm them back. And that has to go away because we are learned to become like God. And so, our character is actually supposed to change into something that's like his character. And he loves us even when we're sinners. That means that we're supposed to love people even when they sin against us, even when it hurts.

Paul agrees with Peter. He spoke very similarly in Romans chapter 12 and verse 17. Back to the New King James, Romans chapter 12-17 says, once again, almost verbatim what Peter says, repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. This is almost exactly what Peter said. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath for it is written. Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him drink. And in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head. That is not an outward action. That requires internal change of your and my heart. Verse 21, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. You know, Jesus takes this concept even one step further. And in Matthew chapter 5, the Sermon on the Mount, in verse 43, we read where Peter and Paul took their marching orders. From the captain of our salvation, he said, Matthew 5, verse 43, you have heard it said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. Now, that's not a quote from the Scriptures. That's just what people say. That's human nature. I mean, it's just what we would call common sense. You want a secure nation, you want a secure society, you need a strong military. If someone cheats you, you get them back, however way it is. That's what people say. And that's what Jesus is quoting here. He says, you have heard it said, this is not from the Bible, this is human common sense. This is human nature that he is combating. You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies. It's not just don't repay evil for evil. We are actually supposed to go much further. Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who spitefully use and persecute you.

That you may be sons of your Father in heaven. And that word means children. Sons means children, sons and daughters. That you reflect God's character.

So you don't repay evil for evil. In fact, you go the opposite direction. You love, you feed, you clothe, you even pray for them. That they will be in God's kingdom too. That's what makes you sons of your Father in heaven.

It's not as simple as just come up to the stage and accept Jesus and go about your business repaying evil for evil. That doesn't make you a son of God, a child of God. But our character actually has to change.

And then, he gives an explanation of how God is. For he makes the sun rise on the evil and the good. Think about it. He does, doesn't he?

There aren't a bunch of little burn marks all over the earth where evil people used to be.

He sends the rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? And then he insults them because tax collectors in that day were Jews who worked for the Roman Empire who had conquered the land of Judea. So they were working for their captors. They couldn't stand the tax collectors. He says, don't even the tax collectors do that? Don't they just love their own? But treat everybody else spitefully?

If you greet your brethren only, what more do you do than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore, you shall be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Why do we focus on food, fellowship, and faith at the feast? It is to become like God who loves to give mercy. So what is our response supposed to be?

We're called to be eager participants with Jesus Christ in leading many people, as many people as possible, to learn the way of God and to come into God's family. I would like for you to notice that we are actually supposed to pray for people who are in the world. First Timothy chapter 2 verse 1.

So why do we go to the feast with food, fellowship, and faith? First Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1. To learn this. Therefore, I exhort you, I exhort you, I exhort you, I exhort you, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. Do you read that differently than I do? I don't think you do. I think you read that the same way. All men.

For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life —I lost my place— peaceful life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of our God, our Savior, who desires notice His point of view once again. And this is repeated over and over and over. This is even repeated in the Old Testament, in some of the Psalms, when it says that all nations will flow to Him, tells the valleys and the mountains and the islands will come to Him. It's not talking about just Israel. It's talking about all people who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

People are not our enemy. They sure seem like they can be our enemy. They can treat us pretty badly, but people are not our enemy. Just keep in mind that Satan guiding them, sifting them like wheat.

Satan is the enemy, not people.

And even when Satan guides people to harm you, look over the shoulder and see the enemy behind them and do not hate your fellow man.

What about people who leave the church? We're not supposed to be friendly to them.

Really? Let's check that. What about those people who leave the church? They stop following the teachings of God. Are they treated like enemies? 2 Thessalonians. Please turn there. I'll give you time. 2 Thessalonians 3, verses 1. We're actually going to read quite a bit of this one.

2 Thessalonians 3, verses 1. Finally, brethren, pray for us, Paul says, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified just as it is with you. That's what a compliment. What a compliment. 3 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for not all have faith, but the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one, pointing to Satan as the enemy, not to the people who mistreat you. 4 And Paul was a very plain-spoken man. He didn't mince words. He said exactly what he meant, and he didn't usually imply much of anything. He directly stated it. And here Paul is pointing to Satan as being the enemy, and God will guard you from the evil one. So you don't have to guard yourself, and that's the point. You don't have to be defensive. Just trust God, and he will protect you. Verse 4. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things that we command you. Verse 5. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God. This is not an outward action, and it's definitely not a showy thing. This isn't go to the feast and pretend to be good by donating to the food bank, although I want you to donate to the food bank when you're there. That's not the point. The point is this is a matter of the heart, not a matter of an outward show. When you still hate your brother inside, you're still hostile, you still think thoughts of revenge. No, that's what we're supposed to be overcoming. You change that, and your outward actions will automatically change, because your actions come from your heart. May the Lord direct your hearts into love of God and into the patience of Christ. And there's the tie-in to the sermon on the Feast of Trumpets, where I talked about be patient with people. Verse 6. But we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly. And that word disorderly is a military term. It means doesn't march in line. In other words, he's rowdy or causes disruption.

Every brother who walks disorderly, you're supposed to withdraw. Aha! Aha! You see? He's the enemy. No. And not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you.

Disorderly people take advantage of other people, and they disrupt. And so you're not supposed to have anything to do with them. But how are you supposed to feel about them? Verse 8. Did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil all night and day? Now he's explaining how he was orderly. He was orderly by paying them more respect than they were owed. So Paul came in, and he didn't require them to tithe. But instead, he worked. But he was owed the tithe and did not collect it. He was doing the opposite of being disorderly. He was being orderly. He was way inside the bounds more than he ought to have done, and that's what he's trying to get across. Don't take advantage of people. Look, I didn't take advantage of you.

We did not eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil all night and day. That we might not be a burden to any of you. Not because we do not have authority. In other words, he had the right to come in and take bread, and his labor was preaching the gospel, and that would have been enough. And he still would have been orderly. But he's drawing this conclusion, and we'll get to his point in just a minute. And you will see how this fits right into the sermon. For even we were with you, we commanded you this. This is verse 10. If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Criticizing others is a sign that you're not working on your own issues. Someone who is always speaking down about other people are busybodies. We see that all the time.

Verse 12. Now those who are such we command and exhort through the Lord Jesus Christ, that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. Don't get worn down, especially by conflict. Don't let that wear you down. Don't be weary or tired of doing good. And going to the feast is going to put fuel in your tank. You just gotta go. You go to where God put His name, and you have good food and good fellowship, and you learn to draw close to God again for this reason, that your character be shaped to become like God, who loves all men, who isn't hostile.

Verse 14. And if anyone does not obey the word of the Epistle, note that person, and do not keep company with them, that he may be ashamed. Notice it's not that he may be the enemy.

It's that he may be ashamed. That's for his good, not his harm. We are not supposed to return evil for evil, ever.

Don't say, oh, well, we have to welcome everybody, either. Well, no, you're not. You're told not to even eat with such a person. But, verse 15 is the whole point that Paul is making. Yet, do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

You correct a person like that, because they're a brother. You don't count them an enemy.

Verse 16. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

So, in wrapping this up, I want us to remember that God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. This should bring incredible joy, an incredible outlook. It's the reason we go to the feast. Vengeance and repaying evil for evil doesn't restore what was lost, and therefore, ultimately, doesn't bring peace or joy or happiness. Give up the feelings to need to get back at people. Lay down your hostility that's in all of us, from one degree to another. We all have it. And learn to become holy as God is holy, who loves the whole world so much.

What perspective should you pray to gain from the feast this year? At the feast, we're commanded to eat good food, to fellowship, and to learn to fear God. In other words, grow in faith. So here are some final thoughts. I would like to encourage you, this year at the Feast of Tabernacles, try to learn something about your relationship with God that you didn't understand before the feast. Give it a shot. And there won't be a test at the end, because this is between you and God. It's a personal thing. Sometimes, if you have to repeat it to other people, then it becomes—the temptation is to become showy, or not let it be real, but what you expect people to hear. And this actually needs to be sincere and from the heart. Try to find out something new that you didn't know about your relationship between you and God. Secondly, I would like to encourage you to make memories, especially for children, and pass along this joy that we have every year— I don't know how many of you, but this will be my 50th feast of tabernacles. 50th! Which means I'm not going to have that many more. And we need to pass it along and make sure that we leave somebody that remembers the joy of food, fellowship, and faith. That they learn not to return evil for evil, but to bless those who insult them.

Thirdly, remember those who cannot go to the feast. We heard about this in the sermonette. Make memories for your children, and remember those who cannot. They can no longer go and have good food, and fellowship, and faith. They'll grow faith right here at home, but they won't get to experience it at the feast. So give them a call, send them a card, send them a package.

How neat would that be just to get a random package? Hey, look what I bought for you in Colorado, Branson, Florida, wherever you might be. Remember those who can't go to the feast. And I would like for you to do something else, and I believe this was also mentioned in the sermonette. Look out for those people who are alone at the feast, and take them out. What happens naturally with us is we have a group, and that group sometimes forms right at the feast.

We meet people, we find something in common, and we form a group, and we stay with that group the entire feast. And I'm here to tell you that is not a bad thing. That is a good thing. That is actually the point. All I ask you to do is when you're in this situation, and you say, where are we going to go? What are we going to do?

That you open the group and bring people who are alone in. Don't abandon the group and take somebody out alone. That would just be awkward. They're brethren, not a charity case. Just open the group. Hey, we're all going to go here. Would you like to go? Well, no. Secretly whisper in the air, hey, don't worry, we'll pay. Not everybody has the money to go do what you can do. Plan your day out so that you can bring somebody with you and pay.

So open your group up. Look out for people who are alone. Some people are alone because they want to be alone. That doesn't mean you have to leave them alone. Doesn't mean they'll go with you either, but you can try. And also, I encourage you to care for each other, including those who are not even called yet.

Look outside the church. Not just to be a light to the world, although we are a light to the world and you need to be a good example. When you go to the feast, you need to be a good example. But that's not the only reason. The other reason is that you need to change from the heart to become like your Father in Heaven. So treat people who serve you with dignity and kindness. And when something goes wrong, say with your room or with your meal, it's appropriate to complain. That's okay. But do so gently and with respect. And leave a good tip anyway.

You know what that's called? Mercy. They probably got to feed their kids, too. Maybe they're having a bad day and they brought the food out late and it was cold or gave you the wrong meal. It'll happen. Leave a good tip anyway. Not for show, for character.

But go further than just treating people who serve you well. Go further. When you see an ambulance go by, don't just get out of the way. Pray for the people who are inside or the people who are there rushing to help. Be careful, though I give a warning, especially to our ladies, of people who beg for money.

Stay with the group and be safe. Never, please, never be alone with somebody that you don't know, especially a beggar. This is a dark, dark world. Do not go to the parking lot with them and give them money or something like that. Stay safe. Just send them to an elder. Just send them on to an elder. If they come in, direct them to an elder. Stay safe, please. But treat people well and pray for them. Become like your Father in heaven who loves all of mankind and wants them to be in His family forever.

Our mission is clear. We are to develop the character of God so that we can assist Jesus Christ when He returns. Why? To return as many hearts as possible towards God in His way. So do not repay evil for evil, but repay evil with good.