“You Give Them Something To Eat”

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Mark 6:34-44

We always have a time in our lives, when we can relive our youth. Maybe it’s playing with a hula hoop. Maybe its dancing, or playing a sport.

Just remember, it shouldn’t take a lot of effort. It should flow naturally, smoothly. With a hula hoop it can move up and down slowly from the waist up to the shoulders. Your success will depend on strategic movement, not vigorous motion.

In our spiritual lives, we can expend all kinds of energy, trying to keep up with others in service to God. But working to exhaustion is not a virtue. Before feeding thousands of people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus called His disciples away to rest. He proved He doesn’t need our frantic exertion to accomplish His work.

The truth Jesus taught His disciples, He wants to teach us: Quiet obedience accomplishes more than wild activity.

Jesus wants willingness, not weariness.

Our Daily Bread – October 10, 2014