Provision
Yes.... it has been awhile. The main reason for my lack of blogging has been starting a full-time job at the women's shelter where I have worked casual for the last 3 years and a move (within the City of Selkirk). Now that we are settled and I am getting used to my routine, I'm hoping to start blogging regularly again.
What motivated me to sit down and write tonight? Bedtime Bible reading with Tim. I read a familiar passage - the feeding of the five thousand (Luke 9:10-17). As I read it to Tim, I was struck afresh by the amazing provision of God for His servants. The apostles were validly concerned for the crowd. They needed food. So, they assessed the situation and took the logical step: tell Jesus what to do. Why is this logical? Well, they saw the problem (hungry people) and say the solution (send them to villages and farms to get food) and they knew how to get the message communicated (get Jesus to tell them since people will listen to Him.)
Jesus response is paralyzing - "You give them something to eat." "What? We can't do that," might be what they thought. What they did was present the problem to Jesus and inform Him of the extremely limited amount of food available unless they were to go shopping (which doesn't seem realistic considering that the number of men present is mentioned at this point: 5000).
So Jesus helps them. He gives them directions (which they follow!) and the result is twelve baskets of leftover fish and bread.
"The Twelve" who came to tell Jesus what to do (see verse 12) are now picking up the pieces of food that weren't needed after everyone ate and the number of baskets left is twelve. One for each of Jesus' apostles.
This exact ration of 1 basket for 1 disciple speaks to me of the great provision of God for His servants who serve others. We see a problem. We think we know possible solutions (that don't involve us!) and bring it to God's attention as we know we don't have enough to give others. And Jesus tells us to do something about it.... but not on our own..... with His help. He is the source of the food humans need. We are the servers. And when everyone else is served, there is more than plenty for us.
As I write this, I know that I'm not thinking about bread and fish, but about love and hope, about grace and truth, about justice and mercy. This is what the people I interact with on a daily basis need. Their cupboards are full, but their hearts aren't. They need the food of Jesus. And as I serve them, I don't need to be afraid that I will be left out or missed. There is enough for me... more than enough. Thanks be to God!
What motivated me to sit down and write tonight? Bedtime Bible reading with Tim. I read a familiar passage - the feeding of the five thousand (Luke 9:10-17). As I read it to Tim, I was struck afresh by the amazing provision of God for His servants. The apostles were validly concerned for the crowd. They needed food. So, they assessed the situation and took the logical step: tell Jesus what to do. Why is this logical? Well, they saw the problem (hungry people) and say the solution (send them to villages and farms to get food) and they knew how to get the message communicated (get Jesus to tell them since people will listen to Him.)
Jesus response is paralyzing - "You give them something to eat." "What? We can't do that," might be what they thought. What they did was present the problem to Jesus and inform Him of the extremely limited amount of food available unless they were to go shopping (which doesn't seem realistic considering that the number of men present is mentioned at this point: 5000).
So Jesus helps them. He gives them directions (which they follow!) and the result is twelve baskets of leftover fish and bread.
"The Twelve" who came to tell Jesus what to do (see verse 12) are now picking up the pieces of food that weren't needed after everyone ate and the number of baskets left is twelve. One for each of Jesus' apostles.
This exact ration of 1 basket for 1 disciple speaks to me of the great provision of God for His servants who serve others. We see a problem. We think we know possible solutions (that don't involve us!) and bring it to God's attention as we know we don't have enough to give others. And Jesus tells us to do something about it.... but not on our own..... with His help. He is the source of the food humans need. We are the servers. And when everyone else is served, there is more than plenty for us.
As I write this, I know that I'm not thinking about bread and fish, but about love and hope, about grace and truth, about justice and mercy. This is what the people I interact with on a daily basis need. Their cupboards are full, but their hearts aren't. They need the food of Jesus. And as I serve them, I don't need to be afraid that I will be left out or missed. There is enough for me... more than enough. Thanks be to God!
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