| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net Nugget: Often we desire or feel we deserve to get away, but Jesus ministered to people even when they were: Ungrateful, Demanding, Selfish and out of His compassion. Know anybody like that? The problem was How To Meet the Needs of the people. There were Four Possible Solutions: 1) Send them away. (Mark 6:35-36) "Get rid of the problem". But it was evening (Matt. 14:15) and Jesus knew they would faint for they had not time to travel for food. 2) "Let's Spend Our Way Out" was Philip's answer. They would require 200 days wages for all to have a morsel. Hmm? How often do we think money is the only answer; let alone the best. 3) Third Solution came from Andrew, but he thought it feeble at best. He found a little boy with a small lunch. Hmmm? Did the boy volunteer his goodies? Nugget: Once again, Andrew is busy bringing people to Jesus as he had brought his brother Peter. Or we can do things - 4) God's Way: vs 11-14 Nuggets: a) The miracle took place in the hands of The Savior - not the disciples. Jesus did it. They just had the privilege/joy of passing it out. Sound familiar? b) The people were satisfied. Only Jesus can satisfy. c) The leftovers were more than enough for the disciples. Us? Them? d) Whenever there is a need, Give all you have and watch Him do the rest. Extra Credit: The World will always attempt to explain away God's miracles. "The boy only shamed everyone into giving what they had hidden away". NOT Jesus knew/knows the hearts of men (2:24, 6:61, 64 and 70). He said the people were "hungry" not deceitful. How did the people respond? "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world." vs 14 They knew a miracle when they saw one. Mass hypnosis? I think not. Nugget: "Jesus gave thanks" - vs 11 and 23. Matthew, Mark and Luke all state that Jesus looked up into heaven, acknowledging the Source of our sustenance. Application: Instead of complaining about what we don't have, we should give thanks for what we do, and watch God make it go further. Happy New Year. |
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