There are two problems that those of us who claim to follow Jesus face. We tend to be too lazy to do what Jesus calls us to. We also try to get out of our responsibilities. We want to blame other people.
The disciples, like so many of us, tried to get out of their responsibilities. They knew that they could not afford to feed everyone, so they tried to find someone else to make responsible. They were looking for someone else to blame.
There was a young boy- apparently the only one in the crowd who came prepared- who was willing to share what he had. This boy appears in the parallel account of this story in John 6.9.
- He did not believe in "helping those at home first."
- He did not offer his leftovers.
- He exercised faith in Christ and obedience to his word.
Jesus merely prayed for the meal and broke it.
The disciples distributed/shared what Jesus blessed.
- They did not take for the leaders first. They served those who had come.
- They obeyed what was essentially a "ridiculous" command of Jesus. (By now they were used to "ridiculous" commands?)
Everyone did something.
For prayers to be answered, sometimes we have to act. We have to pray and do.
Over the coming year, we are going to be asked to
- serve more
- love more
- live more
- give more
- study more
- pray more.
3 comments:
How do you know when you have done "enough" for Jesus and the church? Is it possible to do too much? Are you more likely to do too little, or too much? Why? How can we correct this?
I believe the way to know I have done enough is I will hear God telling me " Well done, good and faithful servant."
Can I do too much???I suppose it is possible, but highly unlikely.
I am among the lazy and that is why I am likely to do too little. A constant prayer - to be focused on Him, to serve at every opportunity I am given - to be pleasing to Him.
I believe each of us needs to develop an intimate love relationship with God (Jesus) and take our direction from Him regarding what to do for Him and His Church. If we each have that close relationship we will be able to listen and hear straight from Him just what it is He wants us to do. Without that intimate relationship it is impossible to know exactly what it is He is leading us to do.
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