Tag: food for a multitude
Food for a multitude!
Scripture reading for February 17: Mark 6
“But He answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and by two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And He said to them, “How man loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then He commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish He looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of fish.” Mark 6:37-43
Mark tells us how Jesus had a large crowd of five thousand men plus women and children come out into the wilderness to hear Him preach and teach. When it was late evening, the disciples suggested to Jesus that He send them away to find food in the villages. Jesus turned the tables and told the disciples to provide food for them. Their brains thought about buying bread and how much money it might take to feed that large a crowd. Jesus asked them for an inventory of what they had. He had the disciples bring the five loaves and two fish that they found and to organize the crowd into family units. He blessed the food, broke it and gave it to the disciples, who, in turn, broke it and gave it to the people. When all had been fed, they gathered twelve baskets of left-overs! (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
Jesus was teaching His disciples to see things from a different perspective. They were to live by faith in what they had, not fear of what they did not have. They were to seek God’s blessing on what they had and act with that as seed to sow. As they gave in faith to those in need, God multiplied the bread and fish and met the need with an abundance left over! Amazing grace received through faith!
Do you live with feeling of lack and fear over provisions? Has God ever ‘multiplied’ the bread as you by faith gave! Have you tried to suggest a course of action and had the Lord tell you to do it yourself?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that you are always at work to expand our world-view. Forgive me for living in the natural world and fearing lack. Help me to stay calm, take inventory, and ask You to bless what I do have. Thank You for overflowing abundance every time I have believed You! Amen!