JESUS SPEAKS
When Jesus heard it, he departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. (Matthew 14: 13 – 21)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
Using a small meal, Jesus created enough food to nourish more than 5000 people. This miracle exemplifies God’s ability to provide for the needs of every human being. Still, the Lord’s provision is focused primarily upon what an individual needs, rather than what they might want or desire (although on occasion what we need is what we desire.) In Matthew 6: 8, Jesus says, regarding those who engage in long ritualistic prayers, “therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” The Lord’s provision is faithful and unfailing. He feeds us, clothes us, gives us water to drink and air to breath; in Him we live, we move and have our being. Unlike God, we cannot see the end from the beginning. If we were to receive the desires of our heart, our lives would tumble into chaos and we would experience great suffering.
This incongruence between God’s will and mankind’s desires is ever-present; we need only examine the book of numbers to discover a powerful example. After leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, God brought them into the wilderness. In the absence of human resources, the Lord provided for all of their needs. He gave them enough water to drink and caused a type of bread called ‘manna’ to condense on the desert floor; which sustained them. And yet, after some time, many grew tired of the ‘manna.’ They demanded that God give them meat to consume. Angered by their demands, God chose to give them what they wanted. A massive collection of quail abruptly appeared near the encampment. They gathered them up and began devouring them. Suddenly however, a great plague arose among the people; afflicting those who had eaten the birds with sickness and death.
As we journey through life, we must avoid the folly of those who perished in the desert; taking care to remain focused on, and revel in, whatever God has provided. He alone can fulfill our needs and protect us from our own wants and desires; which if realized, would result in harm or misfortune. Similarly, if our wants don’t align with God’s will, we must allow our expectations to change. Upon concluding our prayers, we would do well to add the words, “according Your will.” Thy will, not ours be done.
“Lord Heavenly Father, we recognize that all good things come from You. By means of Your divine power, You provide for all of our needs. Thank You for our food, for our clothing, for our jobs, and for the air we breathe and the water we drink. May we continuously revel in these simple but astonishing acts of provision. May we find time to thank You and to admire the gifts You have given us. May Your will be done in every circumstance. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!
Jesus Speaks 