. Posted in Lifelines

 

HERE is another very familiar story which demonstrates the power of Jesus over the material world and His ability to provide for the needs of mankind. Let’s look at the different people involved in it and see what we can learn from them. First we have the crowd. They were fascinated by Jesus and were following Him because they saw the miracles He performed. The favour of a crowd is notoriously unstable and these people who wanted to make Him king right then were easily persuaded to call for His death later. Don’t follow the crowd but decide for yourself.

 

 

            Look at the two disciples who are mentioned by name here. Philip viewed the problem negatively, looking at what they couldn’t do. Andrew was more positive but even he couldn’t see what could be done with the little they had. The little boy was prepared to give Jesus everything he had, probably thinking that the Master was hungry. When they were told to sit down in an orderly fashion the people obeyed without knowing what was to happen. Those at the front would be able to see how little Jesus had been given, so you can imagine how they felt when they saw what He made of it.

 

            The lessons are obvious and we have heard them often, but let’s take them to heart seriously today. Be positive in your praying and don’t consider how little you have to offer, but rather how much Jesus can do with it if you will give it all to Him. The crowd was fed and there was enough left over to fill twelve baskets. God’s blessings are abundant, but we must react correctly to the gifts He gives us. The crowd misunderstood and wanted to crown Jesus as an earthly king so He withdrew from them. Pray for grace and wisdom to handle His gifts to you in the right way.

 

1 Kings 8:46-53

46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near, 47 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 48 if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 49 then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them 51 (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace). 52 Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you. 53 For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.” (ESV)