Walking in the word of life

Are you stuck in the wilderness?

Wednesday, June 06

Mark 8:4-6 GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

4 His disciples asked him, "Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people in this place where no one lives?"

Mark wrote this book in an exciting way. When you study the texts in this account of Jesus, you are almost all over the place. Mark does not give us a chance to soak everything in. It shows Jesus as an itinerant minister. One time you read about the feeding of the four thousand and the next about healing paralytics.

Jesus is about to feed the four thousand. Some travelled great distances to meet Him and stayed a few days with Him. He is thinking about providing and He gets into a conversation with His disciples. His disciples probably looked at the great number of people and thought it impossible to provide for all of them. It led to the question above in the scripture.

The disciples represent the Christian folk. What we would think is not so far from how the disciples thought. They worried about so many things. Where would the food come from? They thought. They reminded Jesus that they were in a wilderness. Now the wilderness represents lack, struggle, insufficiency and hardship. Jesus already knew where they were. He did not need clarification. How many times do we feel as though there is so much to do with so little time to do it? We know a great number of things need our attention and we run all over the place trying to figure out what to do. Suddenly it feels as though we might be losing our minds. We have bills to pay. Assignments to do. Exams are coming up. Some of us may not be in these situations but we have something that constantly worries us.

There is a multitude of hungry people. What can Jesus do for them? Jesus asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have?"

They answered, "Seven."

In other words, He tells them to give Him what they have. He says, 'Give me the bread.' Jesus is speaking to us too. He is asking for what we have. He is asking for our finances. He is asking for our weaknesses and struggles. He is asking for our incapacities. Our inabilities. What we can do as human beings is limited. No matter how resourceful we are, we can never get to a point where we never need God. God's provision goes beyond money or economic support. He provides strength. He provides good health. He provides joy and peace. He is asking us what we have in order that He multiplies the little that is in our hands. God sees big things even in the small things. The disciples just saw seven loaves of bread, but Jesus saw enough to provide for the four thousand. We might be seeing lack but God sees abundance. We might be seeing failure yet God sees success.

Mark 8:8 GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

8 The people ate as much as they wanted. The disciples picked up the leftover pieces and filled seven large baskets.

How many times has God done something and it exceeds our expectations? The scriptures tell us they not only had enough, but they also had leftovers. He is able to do just what He says He will do. He will fulfill every promise. He never lies and never gives up on us. He is always thinking about what to do with our situations. Not the kind of thinking that causes stress; it is more of a plan than it is a thought. Circumstances do not limit God. Naysayers do not change God's mind. He acts upon His word. He can get us out of the wilderness. There is always more than enough in the hands of God. He is ready to bless each of us. We can all eat as much as we want and still have leftovers.

Prayer

Father, thank you. Thank you for taking the bread off my hands. I give you the little that I have. I trade my ashes for beauty. I give you my heart. I give you my all. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, amen.