Feeding the Four Thousand

32 Now Jesus called his disciples and said, “I feel sorry for the crowd because they have been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry for fear they won’t have enough strength to travel.” 33 His disciples replied, “Where are we going to get enough food in this wilderness to satisfy such a big crowd?” 34 Jesus said, “How much bread do you have?” They responded, “Seven loaves and a few fish.” 35 He told the crowd to sit on the ground. 36 He took the seven loaves of bread and the fish. After he gave thanks, he broke them into pieces and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 Everyone ate until they were full. The disciples collected seven baskets full of leftovers. 38 Four thousand men ate, plus women and children. 39 After dismissing the crowds, Jesus got into the boat and came to the region of Magadan. (Matthew 15:32-39, CEB)

Now here again we do not know how many people were fed, because they counted 4000 men, but women and children also ate, so we don’t know how many the 7 loaves and few fish fed. In fact, we don’t know how many fish there were to begin with. But they all were fed and there were 7 baskets full leftover.

Jesus cam take a little bit and make it go a long way. That is why we should never think that we do not have enough. Jesus will always provide in the time of need what is necessary.

Know that it has happened and it will happen. Believe and trust in God.

Community of Believers

37 When the crowd heard this, they were deeply troubled. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Change your hearts and lives. Each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is for you, your children, and for all who are far away—as many as the Lord our God invites.” 40 With many other words he testified to them and encouraged them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized. God brought about three thousand people into the community on that day. 42 The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. 43 A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. 44 All the believers were united and shared everything. 45 They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. 46 Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. 47 They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved. (Acts 2:37-47, CEB)

I knew of a worshiping community called Acts 2:42. “The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers.”

Isn’t that what every community should be? A group that gathers to hear the teachings of Jesus, to uplift each other, to break bread, and to pray? That is what a community of believers is and everyone should be.

And God added to the number of the community. Did you notice that the community was focused on learning and each other, and God added to their number. They didn’t go out looking for others to join but were open to those who came and invited them in and involved them in the community. God did the bringing and the community made room and included them.

Imagine if our worshiping communities did this. What would the world be like?

Paul’s Plan to Visit

8 First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the news about your faithfulness is being spread throughout the whole world. 9 I serve God in my spirit by preaching the good news about God’s Son, and God is my witness that I continually mention you 10 in all my prayers. I’m always asking that somehow, by God’s will, I might succeed in visiting you at last. 11 I really want to see you to pass along some spiritual gift to you so that you can be strengthened. 12 What I mean is that we can mutually encourage each other while I am with you. We can be encouraged by the faithfulness we find in each other, both your faithfulness and mine. 13 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I planned to visit you many times, although I have been prevented from coming until now. I want to harvest some fruit among you, just as I have done among the other Gentiles. 14 I have a responsibility both to Greeks and to those who don’t speak Greek, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 That’s why I’m ready to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. (Romans 1:8-15, CEB)

I get the sense from this passage that Paul really wants to go to Roman. He is writing to them before he makes it there to let them know who he is and that he is hoping to one day be with them so that both Paul and those gathered in Roman can be lifted up and brought closer to each other and our God. I actually think a lot of us now know what Paul was thinking and going through. Wanting to go somewhere he hadn’t been, like on vacation, or back to a Mexican restaurant. This shelter in place and kind of opening is getting to all of us. I know it is different in places where you might be reading this. But here, only a few restaurants are open for dining in and a lot of places have restrictions on the number of people allowed. So we can’t go where we want to or do what we want. We plan to do things and we can’t.

But even in all of this, we can mutually strengthen each other in the faith and pray for each other. We are separated by distances physically, but we can be and are socially and spiritually connected. Do not lose the hope that God has given you and live in that and lift up your brothers and sisters daily.

Always plan, but know even in the disappointments that God is always with us.

Feeding Five Thousand

13 When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14 When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. 15 That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. 21 About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten. (Matthew 14:13-21, CEB)

So how many were actually fed this time? 5000 men, plus women, and children. If 3/4 of the men were married and they had only 1 wife, that would be another 3750, so we are up to 8750. And let’s say that 3/4 of the couples have 2 kids, that’s another 5625, for a total of 14,375, plus 13 for Jesus and the 12 dudes who did…

So around 15000 people ate that day from 5 loaves and 2 fish and there were 12 baskets left over, and again we could ask how big the baskets were…

All of this to say that when we think it isn’t possible, Jesus will show is the way.

What is impossible in your life? Have you asked God how it can be done?

Ask, and watch in amazement.

ask, seek, knock

7 “Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door is opened.9 Who among you will give your children a stone when they ask for bread? 10 Or give them a snake when they ask for fish? 11 If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:7-11, CEB)

This is one of those verses when taken out of context and understanding can get us in trouble. Because this snippet of scripture literally says if you ask for it you will get it, if you look for it you will find it and if you knock on it it will be opened. Ok who among us has asked for something and not gotten it? Or searched for something and not found it? Or knocked and the door wasn’t opened? This is saying just because we as parents wouldn’t give our own children bad things, God will be a cosmic vending machine and give us all our desires. Not how this works.

Other versions of this add if it is the will of the Father. You see we can ask, look for, and want things opened for us and it may not be what we need. It is what we want, but not what we need and therefore will not happen.

So if you ask for, seek, and knock in the will of the Father it will be given, if not, maybe it wasn’t meant to be. I’ve heard God has three answers for every question, yes, no, and not yet, or I’ve got something better, or are you serious?!?!?.

Anyway, seek the will of God, and align your heart with God’s then this passage will happen.

Choice

6 But it’s not as though God’s word has failed. Not all who are descended from Israel are part of Israel.7 Not all of Abraham’s children are called Abraham’s descendants, but instead your descendants will be named through Isaac. 8 That means it isn’t the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children from the promise who are counted as descendants. 9 The words in the promise were: A year from now I will return, and Sarah will have a son. 10 Not only that, but also Rebecca conceived children with one man, our ancestor Isaac. 11 When they hadn’t been born yet and when they hadn’t yet done anything good or bad, it was shown that God’s purpose would continue because it was based on his choice. 12 It wasn’t because of what was done but because of God’s call. This was said to her: The older child will be a slave to the younger one.13 As it is written, I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau. (Romans 9:6-13, CEB)

So how are you included in the promise?

Is it that you are a descendent of Abraham? According to the Hebrew Scripture that is what you need to be a part of the promise, but here in Romans, what does Paul say?

Paul says it is not because you are a natural child of God but that you are chosen and counted. And who chooses?

It isn’t anything we do or can do to get counted. It is all by God’s call. God is the one who chooses.

So rest in the promise that God has chosen you. And know you are a part of the promise.

Thank you

10 I was very glad in the Lord because now at last you have shown concern for me again. (Of course you were always concerned but had no way to show it.) 11 I’m not saying this because I need anything, for I have learned how to be content in any circumstance. 12 I know the experience of being in need and of having more than enough; I have learned the secret to being content in any and every circumstance, whether full or hungry or whether having plenty or being poor. 13 I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength. 14 Still, you have done well to share my distress. 15 You Philippians know from the time of my first mission work in Macedonia how no church shared in supporting my ministry except you. (Philippians 4:10-15, CEB)

This is one of the overused verses in the Bible and wrongly used verses. I can do all things through the power of the one who gives me strength. This doesn’t mean that you don’t need to practice or learn skills and that God will miraculously just give you the ability to do something. God will be with you through all things that happen and will help you manage what is happening around you. But God doesn’t make you a star. Paul here says he knows what it is to have enough, and he also knows what it is to be in need. Paul has lived and has been in the valley and he has been on the mountain and though it all God has been with him. And Paul has learned along the way that no matter what happens, God will always be there.

And Paul thanks the Philippians because they have always been with Paul also.

Who has been there for you in your faith journey?

Image?

30 He continued, “What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it?31 Consider a mustard seed. When scattered on the ground, it’s the smallest of all the seeds on the earth; 32 but when it’s planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all vegetable plants. It produces such large branches that the birds in the sky are able to nest in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he continued to give them the word, as much as they were able to hear.34 He spoke to them only in parables, then explained everything to his disciples when he was alone with them. (Mark 4:30-34, CEB)

As I read this passage I noticed, maybe for the first time, that the mustard seed, when scattered on the ground, is the smallest of all seeds, but when planted grows into the largest of all plants. Scattered verses planted.

There is a difference between scattering seed and planting. One is done willy nilly and the other is done with care. Oh and the difference that care can and does make.

If the seed is scattered, it is just small but planted it becomes something large.

That is the care and planting that God does with each of us.

When we plant God’s word into our lives it grows into something large!

Don’t just scatter God, plant God. Be so involved and open to the moving of the Spirit that your life is large with God.

Armor of God

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. 11 Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil. 12 We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens.13 Therefore, pick up the full armor of God so that you can stand your ground on the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand. 14 So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, 15 and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. 16 Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. 18 Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers. (Ephesians 6:10-18, CEB)

We are not fighting against human enemies!

Even when it seems we are fighting humans, we are actually fighting something larger. Forces of evil and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens.

Therefore we need to be protected by God as much as possible. If we trust in the promises God has given us we will not lose our footing in God’s word.

Stay alert and hang in there. Praying for others, and know they are praying for you.

God will help us through whatever comes our way.

 

 

Wisdom from above

13 Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. 14 However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic. 16 Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil. 17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine.18 Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts. (James 3:13-18, CEB)

What is wisdom from on high?

It is pure.

It is peaceful.

It is gentle.

It is obedient.

It is filled with mercy.

It is filled with good actions.

it is fair.

it is genuine.

And all of these attributes must be true for everyone for it to be wisdom from above. If it is not all of these things for everyone, then it is born of selfish ambition.

So as you go through life and seek to follow after where God is leading, test what you ate thinking is wisdom and look out for the others in your life and around you.