NOTE: Our grandson, Ellis Benjamin Miller, was born this morning around 1 AM. He was nearly 5 pounds and his lungs seem to be functioning. The little groundhog saw his shadow and immediately went to NICU, but hopefully not for 6 weeks. Jenni and I are headed out in the blizzard to see him. Things seem to be going well for a 5 and a half week preemie.
Context
Today's readings focus on two stories that are among the most familiar in the life of Christ. First is the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 the food of one young man. It is one of the few stories recorded in all four gospels. It is followed in three of the four gospels by the story of Jesus walking on water. Both stories remind us of the amazing and miraculous power of Jesus Christ. Matthew and Mark follow with stories of Jesus healing in the Gennesaret region.
Devotional - Only God
It is one of the few stories of Jesus that is recorded in every one of the four gospels. Jesus, with an enormous crowd surrounding him, called on his disciples to feed the multitude. They threw up their hands in failure - what could they do? There was not enough food among them to feed the Twelve, much less the thousands around them. But Jesus was there that day not primarily to do a miracle that would amaze the crowds, but to reveal himself to his disciples and to build their faith.
They brought him the five loaves and the two fish that a young boy had brought - all the food that was in the crowd. Jesus took it, blessed it and started to divide it among the crowds. After everyone had their fill, there were 12 baskets of food left over for fish sandwiches later.
It was a stupendous display of supernatural power. But it was more than that. It was a template for how God works in his followers.
First, God always calls us to tasks that are beyond our power, abilities and resources. In one of the other gospels, Jesus commands the disciples to feed the people. He ordered them to do what they could not. God calls us to tasks that are beyond our abilities and resources. He doesn't just give you what you can handle. He doesn't ask you for your best. He calls on you to give and to do that which is so far out of the range of your abilities that it is absurd.
Second, God demands that what little we have be given to him. It is not about how much ability we have, how many talents or what our resources are. But whatever we are, whatever we have, it must be given to God and devoted to God's glory. We are called to give our bodies to him as living sacrifices.
Third, God does in and through us by his power what we are incapable of doing on our own. He sanctifies us, cleanses us, empowers us and uses us in ways that only he can get the glory. The disciples took food to every person that was there that day in spite of the fact that they didn't have the food. They gave to others what God provided for them.
Finally, God works abundantly through his people. There were 12 baskets of leftovers after the meal. God did not just give enough, he lavished his blessing. God lavishes his love on us and gives us blessings beyond our imagination.
Father, I thank you that when I give myself to you, you do your work through me, by your power and grace. Amen!Think and Pray
Do you tend to view your ministry and service in terms of what your resources are or what God can do?
Thanks Be To God for the new little healthy life of your grandson!
ReplyDeleteI believe we all seem to rely on what We think we need to do, or Want to do, when we should be asking, and then listening to what God wants us to do. Some how We think we know what is best for us to do, and turn off our ears to God. He provided food for the crowd that day when they were in need. He provides life for us daily, and more than we even know.