“Love people, cook them Tasty Food.” This simple slogan from a local spice shop perfectly encapsulates a beautiful truth: food is more than just sustenance. It’s a powerful way to express love and connection. Thinking about this always brings a smile, because it highlights how a basic human need can become an extraordinary act of affection.
In our own lives, my partner and I often communicate our care through food. Whether it’s a spontaneous batch of homemade ice cream, a thoughtfully chosen bottle of wine, or a relaxing brunch at a beloved café, these food-related gestures are our way of saying, “You’re in my thoughts, and I care about you.”
The Joy of Sharing Tasty Food with Open Hearts
Recently, we’ve been experiencing this kind of loving generosity firsthand. With the arrival of our baby, Ellison Palmer, our family has been showered with an incredible outpouring of love, prayers, and, most wonderfully, delicious food from our friends.
On the very day Ellis was born, my dear friend Jessie, who was also heavily pregnant, visited me in the hospital. She didn’t come empty-handed; she brought fresh, warm cinnamon rolls and even treated me to a foot massage and pedicure! The following day, we returned home to the comforting aroma of peanut butter and banana bread, lovingly baked by my sister who had been looking after our older child, Ezekiel, while we were at the hospital. For the next couple of evenings, our friends ensured we had dinner taken care of, allowing us precious time to settle into our new family dynamic with baby Ellis.
This experience beautifully mirrors the spirit of the early church, as described in Acts 2. This passage paints a vivid picture of a community of believers united in faith and action.
“Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:43-47
Lessons in Fellowship and Tasty Food from the Early Church
While our modern world differs significantly from that time, the core principles of community and fellowship remain timeless. We can still draw profound insights from the early church’s example, particularly their eagerness to share and connect with one another. Isn’t this deep sense of unity, born from our shared faith in Christ, one of the greatest blessings we can experience?
This love and fellowship naturally manifest in practical ways. As highlighted in Acts, sharing possessions and food was a tangible expression of their bond. It’s a powerful and concrete way for us, as believers, to demonstrate love and support for each other, celebrating the love we share through Christ.
This week has been such a blessing. Knowing that so many people are praying for us, receiving countless offers of help as we navigate this new chapter, and being gifted with nourishing meals, all underscore the profound love that underpins these actions.
Sacrificial Love Expressed Through Tasty Food
Having been on the other side – preparing meals for friends welcoming new life – I know the joy of participating in their journey. It’s a privilege to join with others in celebrating new beginnings and offering love, support, and prayers to a family experiencing a miracle.
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.” Acts 4:32-33
As mentioned, times have changed, but the essence of this passage remains deeply relevant. The beauty lies in the believers’ attitudes; they acted as if their possessions were communal, readily offering to those in need. This is a powerful reflection of Christ’s love, who selflessly gave everything, even His own life, to demonstrate His immense love for us. Sharing tasty food is a small but meaningful way to emulate this sacrificial love within our communities.
Living Life Together, Sustained by Christ’s Love and Tasty Food
Author and Pastor David Platt, in his book “Follow Me,” beautifully describes the essence of the church:
“…the New Testament envisions followers of Jesus living alongside of one another for the sake of one another. The Bible portrays the church as a community of Christians who care for one another, love one another, host one another, receive one another, honor one another, serve one another, instruct one another, forgive one another, motivate one another, build up one another, comfort one another, pray for one another, confess sin to one another, esteem one another, edify one another, teach one another, show kindness to one another, give to one another, rejoice with one another, weep with one another, hurt with one another, and restore one another. All of these ‘one anothers’ combined together paint a picture not of people who come to a building filled with customized programs but of people who have decided to lay down their lives to love one another.”
The church, while imperfect as it is composed of imperfect individuals, should strive to embody these relationship-centered principles. In this season of our lives, we are deeply grateful to be on the receiving end of this love and support from our fellow believers. My prayer is that, regardless of life’s stage, Christ’s love will flow through me, enabling me to be a blessing to others, walking alongside them and loving them with Christ’s very love. Whether it’s a simple gesture like bringing a lasagna – a tasty food offering – to new parents, praying with a friend in pain, or dedicating time, resources, or energy to assist another believer, this is the essence of a Christian community: living life together, bound by Christ’s love and often expressed through the sharing of tasty food.
