September 8, 2006

Key Passage: Luke 9:10-17

Topic: Service/Servanthood; Obedience/Discipleship

But Jesus said, "You feed them" (Luke 9:13, NLT). 

"What did He say?" This seems to be the disciples' reaction when Jesus tells them to take care of food for five thousand people.  

The amazing thing is, Jesus had just called these men together and given them the authority and instruction for spreading the Word of God. But the minute something big comes up, they're telling Jesus to send everybody home. 

Jesus, however, had the situation under control. He doesn't get up and say, "Okay, people, get out of here, there's nothing to eat."  

No, He'd preached all day to a crowd that followed Him when He'd tried to be alone. But He didn't turn them away; He took care of their spiritual needs. Now it was time to take care of their physical needs. 

Do you ever focus on things like the disciples did--on a lack of something? They had very little food and no money to get more, so they immediately thought it was "Impossible!" (Luke 9:13, NLT). But Jesus wasn't concerned with what they didn't have. He knew what they did have--a blessing from God just waiting to be called on. 

God isn't limited by how little fish and bread you have to serve; He's only limited to how much faith you have in His ability to multiply what you do have to serve Him.