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Give it up, God things are about to happen (Matthew 14:18) April 4, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Exodus 1-4

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 14:18
Jesus: Bring the bread and the fish to Me.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Simple words, but they pack a powerful punch if you really stop and think about them.

The disciples had come to Jesus with a problem. Five thousand men and the women and children that accompanied them gathered on the hillside to listen to Jesus one day. He had preached, healed, taught from the scriptures, ministered to their needs, blessed them. It had been an extraordinary day. But now it late and the people needed food. In yesterday’s podcast we talked about the expectations we should have we walk the path with Jesus. Expect the unexpected. Expect to work. Expect to help people. And expect miracles.

Easy, right? We’re His followers. We understand these expectations and we get to the task. We work hard for Him. We spend days and nights at church. We feed the poor. We give our tithe. We sing in the choir and teach Sunday School classes. We get really busy doing the right things for the kingdom. But we just don’t see many results. The altars are empty. We don’t see many seeking Christ. No one seems to see the necessity of following Christ, but instead walk away as broken and lost as when they came.

What went wrong?

I think the answer can often be found in these simple words. After Jesus told the disciples to feed the crowd, they admitted they just didn’t have what it takes. "All we have are five tortillas (I live in Texas) and two sardines. What is that going to do for such a big crowd? That’s a boy’s lunch, not a feast for 20,000.

Do we ever admit that we don’t have what it takes? Quite frankly, that’s part of the problem with the services’ PTSD problems. PTSD is real, but in the service, you’re taught to be tough. We’re a team and can’t let each other down. We have to stay tough and ready to fight. Surely this nightmare thing isn’t happening to me. PTSD is something that happens to someone else, so we slough it off. But the longer the problem persists the harder it is to treat. We have a hard time recognizing that about the same number of people that will get a cold in their lifetime will have a mental illness in their lifetime. I’m not talking about schizophrenia or manic-depressive disorder or things that will hospitalize you for weeks. Colds don’t hospitalize most people for weeks either. But most people will experience depression some time in their life. Out of control anger or grief. Mental and emotional issues that they need help fixing. Just like you need help with a cold or the flu.

So we don’t admit that we can’t handle the problem. We don’t admit that a task is too hard for us without God’s help. We plow in headstrong and find ourselves with mild concussions after beating our head against that wall that just won’t budge. Still we don’t come to the source of power. We keep trying to plow through.

Remember the story of Moses and the flaming bush that wasn’t consumed by the fire? Remember how Moses argued with God about his ability to lead the Israelites and convince Pharaoh and his counselors to let the Israelites leave the country? God asked Moses what he had in his hand. When Moses answered, “A staff.” God told him to throw it on the ground and it became a snake. That staff became a symbol of the presence of God to the people of Israel because Moses had given it to God and God changed it and gave it back to him.

Elijah did the same with the widow he ask to feed him. Elisha did it with the jar of oil. And now Jesus does the same with His disciples. Give me what you have. I know you don’t have what it takes to do the job I’ve asked you to do. I’ve done that on purpose. I want you to know you didn’t make this happen, I did. So give me what you have and then do the work with what you gave Me. I’ll make your inadequacy adequate. I’ll make your incapability capable. I’ll make your lack abundant.

So what roadblocks have you found in working for Jesus? Is it because you are trying to spread those five tortillas and two fish around all by yourself? You can’t do it. You’re not God. He has creative power. He can multiply them when you give them to Him. All you can do is deliver the pieces when He gives them back to you. You can’t do more than that, but you shouldn’t do less.

Jesus says to us today, take what you have and give it to Me. Then watch what I will help you do with it. You’ll be in awe and those around you will, too. Give what you have to Me then get ready to work because God things are about to happen.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Watch for His miracles (Matthew 14:16) April 3, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – 1 Corinthians 11-12

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 14:16
Jesus: They don’t need to go back to the villages in order to eat supper. Give them something to eat here.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Jesus has preached all day to the crowds assembled to hear Him and see His miracles. He has met their needs. He has shared the good news of the kingdom of heaven being at hand. He has opened the scripture so their could understand God’s love for them. He shared how God wanted a relationship with them, not sacrifices and rituals and rules. He wanted obedience, but He wanted obedience in a relationship of love just as we give obedience to our spouse out of love.

So here they were. The hour was late. People were hunger. The crowd began to grow restless. Jesus preached on. The disciples slipped up next to Him and whispered in His ear. “Master, the people are hunger, why don’t we send them into the villages nearby so they can get something to eat.” Hey, boss. Time for a break. Let’s give everyone time to go to McDonalds and start again in 30 minutes. Sound good?

Jesus words astound His disciples. “Give them something to eat here.” Now I imagine the disciples stopped and looked around at the crowd, then looked at the hillsides, then looked at Jesus. I expect a few of them got big eyes and their eyebrows went sky-high in confusion. Some of them probably doubled over in laughter thinking He was pulling their leg. He must have been joking. Some got a little closer, “Excuse me? What did you say? I don’t think I heard you right. Did you say feed them here?”

"Uh, Jesus, there’s no cafeteria here. McDonald’s won’t be built here for another couple thousand years. We don’t have Long John Silvers or Captain D’s or Bill Millers or Denny’s or anything. We just have rocks and a few trees and grass. But Jesus, these people aren’t cows. They won’t eat grass and leaves and rocks.

Do what can we learn from Jesus’ words to His disciples?

First, expect the unexpected. Jesus’ response to His disciples shocked them. They didn’t know what to do with His response. They didn’t see any way out of the predicament He put them in. Feed this crowd here? It seemed ridiculous, but Jesus does things no one else can do. He does God-like things because He is God. If we are truly His, He will do God-like things through us. So expect the unexpected. Be ready for Him to use you in ways that just don’t make sense sometimes.

Second, expect to work. Jesus didn’t let the disciples off the hook. The people were hunger. They needed food. The disciples were about to work pretty hard as waiters for a crowd of 5,000 men plus all the women and children who were there. So we can assume there were well over 10,000 and probably closer to 20,000 people gathered together that day. So these disciples had their work cut out for them. Imagine waiting on 20,000 people to get enough food to them that their hunger is satisfied. Just think about the weight of food they will carry. If each person only eats 1/3 pound of food each, that’s still almost 3 1/2 tons of food they will carry one basket at a time until everyone is fed.

Third, expect to help people. Jesus wasn’t going to let this crowd go hungry. If the disciples released them into the villages to get food, they still wouldn’t be fed. Think about it. How much food do you think would have been available to feed those 20,000 people in the nearby villages? It would have wiped out the food sources. The villages couldn’t have supported such a request. These were small villages of maybe a few hundred people at the time. 20,000 people constituted the population of some of the larger cities of Jesus’ day. The local villages could not have fed the crowd anyway. So Jesus commanded His disciples to help these people satisfy their physical need.

Finally, expect a miracle. When Jesus directs us to do things in His name, He uses His resurrection power to get things done. Sometimes His miracles are extraordinary like the feeding of the 5,000 men and all the women and children accompanying them. Sometimes He heals in miraculous ways and there is almost instantaneous cure of some disease or illness. Sometimes He works through the hands of others. Sometimes His miracles are subtle, putting the right people at the right place at the right time so that their skills and talents can be put to work to make something happen. Sometimes He just lets us see that He is present with the miracle of His peace in our heart despite the circumstance we face. But we can look for the miracles around us and we will see His grace and mercy at work. We will see His mighty hand at work around us.

The disciples were astonished at Jesus’ words. On this side of the cross, we can learn from them and listen for Jesus’ words expectantly. Listen for Him to speak to you and watch His miracles work around you.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

It’s more than feeding 5,000 (Luke 9:1-20), Jan 9, 2015

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The background for today’s devotion comes from Luke 9:1-20.

I sent My disciples across the countryside to teach and preach with three simple rules:

  • Travel light
  • Stay in the same house until you leave that city
  • If a town rejects you, shake the dust from your feet as you leave as a witness against them

They traveled in My name and were amazed at the results that came from their work. Using My name, they healed the sick, drove demons from those possessed, and worked miracles among those with whom they ministered. The seventy-two that went out rejoiced at the work they did. They praised My name and gave glory to Me for the work they did.

Shortly after, I gave them an object lesson that let them know I am the Bread of Life. Luke’s description of the day begins to tell the story pretty well. When I saw all the people hungry for what I could do for them that the temple’s rituals had not done, I had compassion on them. I wanted to show them the power of God to meet their needs. Not just their physical needs, but their sin problem as well. But people won’t listen to a sermon when they’re hungry, so I fed them.

As the disciples arranged them in groups of 50 across the mountainside, the different colors of coats and cloaks looked like a flower garden stretched out on the hillside. Each with a particular need for special nourishment. As I blessed the fish and loaves provided by a little boy, who trusted in Me to use what he had, I thought of each person there and the particular need each represented. The food provided was really just the beginning. As I spoke through their meal, each person, man, woman, boy and girl was touched by the particular message I gave that day.

Many came away amazed at the twelve baskets of bread and fish left over after feeding the crowd, but the real miracle happened in the hearts of those whose lives I changed that day. Those who believed I was the son of God and put their trust in Me found an incredible inner peace and freedom from the guilt of sin in their lives. They found hope they never knew could exist. They understood I cared about them individually and collectively.

The miracle of feeding the crowd with the loaves and fish wasn’t so much about feeding a lot of hungry people with a small amount of food. It was about My compassion, My love, My understanding their needs from the smallest to the largest. I knew them and I know you. And if I can feed that crowd with just two fish and five pieces of bread, I can meet your needs, too. Trust in Me!

Ready – Luke 9:1-20
Set – Genesis 24; Luke 9
Go! – Genesis 23-24; Luke 9

Luke9:1-20
Jesus convened a gathering of the twelve. He gave them power and authority to free people from all demonic spirits and to heal them of diseases. 2 He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3-5 These were His instructions:

Travel light on your journey: don’t take a staff, backpack, bread, money, or even an extra change of clothes.
When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that city.
If a town rejects you, shake the dust from your feet as you leave as a witness against them.
6 The disciples left on their journeys from village to village. They preached the good news, and they healed the sick everywhere they went.

7-8 Their mission didn’t go unnoticed. The local official installed by Rome, Herod, was especially anxious about the news because rumors were flying. Some people said that Elijah or one of the other ancient prophets had been resurrected, while others said that John, famous for his ritual cleansing, was alive and preaching again.

Herod: 9 I am the one who beheaded John. So who is this man who is causing such a stir?

Herod was curious about Jesus and wanted to see Him.

10 The emissaries whom Jesus had sent out returned, and Jesus took them away from the crowds for a time of retreat in a city called Bethsaida. They gave Jesus a full report of their accomplishments and experiences. 11 But soon the crowds discovered where they were and pursued Him. Jesus didn’t turn them away; He welcomed them, spoke of the kingdom of God to them, and brought health to those who needed healing.

12 Picture what happened while in Bethsaida, where Jesus and His disciples were spending time with the crowds:

The sun is low in the sky, and soon it will be dusk. The twelve come to Jesus with advice.

Disciples: Send the crowd away so they can find lodging and food in the nearby villages and countryside. We’re out here in the middle of nowhere.

Jesus: 13-14 No. You give them something to eat.

Disciples: Are You kidding? There are at least 5,000 men here, not to mention women and children. All we have are five loaves and two fish. The only way we could provide for them would be to go to a nearby city and buy cartloads of food. That would cost a small fortune.

Jesus: Just do this: organize them in little communities of about 50 people each and have them sit down.

15 They do what Jesus says, and soon groups of 50 are scattered across the landscape.

16 Then Jesus takes the five loaves and two fish, and He looks up to heaven. He praises God for the food, takes each item, and breaks it into fragments. Then He gives fragments to the twelve disciples and tells them to distribute the food to the crowd.

17 Everyone eats. Everyone is satisfied. Nobody goes away hungry. In fact, when the disciples recover the leftovers, they have 12 baskets full of broken pieces.

18 Once Jesus was praying in solitude. The disciples were nearby, and He came to them with a question.

Jesus: What are the people saying about Me?

Disciples: 19 Some people think You’re John the Baptist. Others say You’re the prophet Elijah, or else one of the other ancient prophets who has come back from the dead.

Jesus: 20 Ah, but what about you? Who do you say that I am?

Peter: God’s Anointed, the Liberating King.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.