“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" John 6:9
Prayer and Feasting - Day 13
I think it is interesting that I can read something in the Bible over and over again. I can hear sermons on a passage that bring understanding to its message. I can say, "Yes I get it," which sounds nice and meaningful. Then all of a sudden I look at it and it yells a whole different meaning to me. I know that my train of thought sometimes seems to go off on an unmarked siding that only makes sense inside my head.
The story that I’m thinking about is Jesus feeding the 5000. People think that there may have been 5000 men plus their families. In any event, a lot of people. They had all come to hear what Jesus had to say. You can just picture them all gathered on the hillside listening to Jesus teach about God. At some point the disciples became concerned that this mass of people had been there so long and were getting hungry.
We’ll pause here for a second. I’ve heard sermons focusing on the vast number of people who had come hungry to hear Jesus and the impact He was having. I've also heard about Jesus’ compassion for the needy and the miracle that reveals His power by making the 5 loaves and 2 fish enough to feed them all.
Those are all great points but what hit me, probably due to my feelings of inadequacy, is Jesus’ lesson to the disciples. They came to Him saying all we have is 5 loaves and 2 fish. Let me rephrase it as though it was me. "Jesus I can’t do it, I don’t have enough, I’m not good enough." And Jesus’s response in His best tough love voice might be, “Stop your whining and trust Me, I’ve given you what you need, now get to work”.
This is what I heard this story yelling at me. I need to make better use of what God has given me. He has been gracious
Theme of Prayer - Faithfulness
Prayer for Today - "Dear Lord, I want to be faithful with all that You have entrusted to me. Sometimes I compare with what others have been given and how they are using it. I am asking You to help me be faithful. You have given me so much - in my personality, in my mental capacities, in my attitude, and in various strengths that can and should bless others. May I use all that You have provided and glorify You. In Jesus' name - Amen."