SCRIPTURE:Mark 6:35-44
Have you ever been overwhelmed by all the need and difficulty out there… or in your own life?
Like the disciples, we want the problem to go away; if we can avoid it, we will, otherwise we will plead with God to send it away.
But God has other ideas, He created us to work with Him in the world, to be His partners.
God is willing to do great things WITH us, not just for us.
He says to Jesus… ‘You do something for them’; and Jesus says to us, ‘You give them something to eat!’
God wants us to be a part of solving the world’s (and our own) problems and needs?
But it’s too hard, there’s too much, we don’t have enough strength or resources to do this by ourselves.
Exactly, by ourselves we do not… but who said anything about by ourselves?
With God on our side, everything that we have is exactly enough to do what God wants to do with us.
If you are willing, if you respond to His request to ‘do something’, God will take your meagre resources and multiply them beyond what you can imagine.
God does not want YOU to fix the world for Him, but He does want you to work with Him in fixing the world… and you have everything you need to do it, with God.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, help me not to focus on my inability, and instead to focus on our ability, together. By myself it’s too much, but You are not sending me by myself. Show me today how You can use and multiply my meagre resources to bless many!
Observations/Application
The people had come to the living Bread to hear Him speak. Christ never leaves His people empty. Not only does He provide the spiritual needs but also the physical needs. He gives His people rest. They are satisfied. He provides. He is the Source of ALL satisfaction. He is the Source of All rest. He is the Source of our daily bread. It is only He who can satisfy His people and supply all their needs. He never leaves His people on ’empty.’
Prayer
I need to come each day to You, Jesus for ‘refuelling’ so I do not run on empty or aimlessly. You are the Source of Life – the Bread of Life – and I daily need to be be nourished/refueled by You for daily strength so that I can go the distance in Your name. Feed me this day.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
[or Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer…]
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield;
Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.