I have chosen the Gospel of John as the subject. I pray that these will be a blessing and an edification for the saints.
JOHN 6:10-13
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
vs. 10 "And Jesus said, Make the men sit down..."
There is a place where we can do nothing for ourselves; when what we need to do is just sit down and wait. Having hearts prepared to receive from the LORD as the One and Only Who can and will satisfy the longing of our souls. It is that longing that GOD in His sovereignty uses to compel us to pursue the satisfaction for that longing: that nagging emptiness that cries to be filled:
ROMANS 8:20-21
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Ultimately the deliverance from this "bondage of corruption" will be met when it's realized at the coming of the LORD and "this corruptible will put on incorruption" (1 COR 15:54). Humanity was born into this fallen world with a sin nature, hollowed out of the hallowed, that is, bereft of the Spirit of GOD, the very One Who seeks to re-establish a relationship with us as a father with his adopted children who once were orphans.
Sin corrupted us, leaving us empty ("vanity") and the very LORD Who created us, Who came as Redeemer, is the only means by which this vanity can and will be filled. This occurs when the sinner repents and turns to the LORD by faith, and receives the Gospel to the salvation of the soul; that sinner, transformed into saint, begins to experience and understand the contentment that all saints have in Christ. The longing is relieved; the pursuit to be fulfilled ends and is replaced by the pursuit of more of Christ, and more, and more.
It's something of a paradox, for we are satisfied in Christ, no longer searching for fulfillment, and yet also searching for greater measures and depths of fulfillment through the unsearchable riches in Christ (EPH 3:8).
Just as these men waited to be filled with bread, we waited to be filled with "the bread of life" (JOHN 6:33-35, 48,51) and those who receive Christ are filled indeed!
vs. 11 "And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down..."
We thank the LORD always for all of His goodness, and in the giving of the good things He intends for us, His beloved:
JAMES 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
MATTHEW 7:11
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
In seeking for provision, for our daily bread for example, as with all prayer in seeking from GOD some answer to our needs, we always should couple such requests with thanksgiving, for all the answers we received from the LORD Who time and time again, proven His faithfulness to us as our good Abba:
PHILIPPIANS 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
The LORD Jesus took those few loaves, which couldn't possibly meet the needs of even fifty men, much less five thousand that were present, and blessed them. GOD's blessings will ensure any meager provision will be more than enough to fill the needs of the thankful and believing. In understanding the heart of GOD as a generous Abba, giving liberally, our hearts can't fail to be springs of thankful fountains, ever reaching upwards towards the heavens and our heavenly Father.
The LORD gave to His disciples and His disciples gave to the people. Had not the disciples come to Christ and offered their scant substances and then waited for His blessing, and then receive from Him - there would be nothing to meet the needs of the multitude.
Likewise the pastor must wait upon the LORD for a word to preach; the evangelist must wait for holy unction to anoint the Gospel upon his lips; the prayer warrior must wait in the silent hours, often times for the heavens to break open and the presence of the LORD to descend and meet with him.
In each case, there would be no ministering to the people unless these ministers first surrendered the scant and insubstantial that they are and then wait to be ministered to by the LORD, the Supreme Minister and receive from Him that blessed that is Himself, Christ the LORD with which they may bless the people: with nothing of themselves, but only that which has been passed on to them from those nail-pierced hands that blessed the bread two thousand years ago.
vs. 12 "...Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost."
Nothing of that which the LORD has given us is to be wasted. Every provision of grace from the heavenly storehouse is to be employed; in the tilling of soil, the sowing of seed, in the weeding, the watering, the harvesting of grain. Also in the grinding of the grain and in making of the bread, to serving the same to others who will gain nourishment, strength and restoration to go out again in the field to work in the kingdom of GOD.
The least of the graces of GOD are provision enough to waste the powers of the enemy, subdue the unruly and sinful flesh, to raise up the weary saint and recover the wandering sheep that has endangered themselves in the midst of ravenous wolves and pernicious predators.
A fragment of GOD's provision far exceeds the most sumptuous feast of mere mortal man, with exceeding satisfaction that has no equal anywhere in this world. More precious is a single word of the LORD than the grandest oratories of men's most eloquent. Let none of these be wasted.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:25-27
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
The remnant is very like a fragment, for as a fragment represents only the slightest denomination of the whole, so is a remnant. GOD's remnant is far more powerful than the most militant and mighty of the hosts of man.
Gideon's vast hosts were reduced to a mere fraction, a pittance of people, but with that remnant GOD vanquished the enemy that would overwhelm an entire army.
David's band of discontented men, who hid with him in caves became the valiant of Israel that decimated every foe of YHWH that dared to cross them.
GOD is blessed to use the weak, the despised, the foolish of this world to undo the strong, the esteemed and wise of this world, because the glory goes to Him, Who alone can use such "wasted fragments" of humanity for His heavenly purposes in brining fulfillment of His counsel and kingdom.
vs. 13 "...they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets..."
The twelve disciples ministered along with the LORD, and when all were filled to satisfaction, these servants found no want, who served others first, before they met their own need. This is the guarantee of the minister of the LORD, that in seeking first GOD's Kingdom, His righteousness, His holy will - that the things they themselves need will be received.
It's a blessed partnership between Master and servant: as we see to His interests and goals, He is intent on meeting our needs. How much more of a blessing it is to see the LORD extend His hand and bring us provision than to seek them ourselves; knowing the care and love of our Good Shepherd Who sees to even the smallest details of our needs, some we may even overlook ourselves, but doesn't escape His loving eyes - and to be secured by His grace the highest honor and privilege in serving, even if we are the least of His servants, in His Kingdom (MATT 6:33).
The lowliest servant in GOD's kingdom has exceedingly greater honor and position than the most powerful of this world's emperors and premieres!
May we, the few and least esteemed of this world, count it a joy to be used of the LORD Jesus Christ to meet the needs of others, by His Spirit of grace, Who operates through us in ministries of love, truth and grace in bringing satisfaction and fulfillment to others!
Next time, we will look into JOHN 6:14-15 "That Prophet They Would Have As King".
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