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"We’d like to think the followers would respond with more faith."


A thought by Max Lucado from his book, You Are Never Alone (p. 53). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) 

And the same could be said of us, his followers today, in what we are going through.

Max says, "After all, they’d seen water turned into wine and a lame man walk. We’d like to see more spunk, more grit. More 'We can’t, but you can, Jesus!' But they and the silent others showed no spark. They counted the hungry people, the money in their bag, and the amount of bread and fish. They did not, however, count on Christ.

"And he was standing right there! He could not have been nearer. They could see, hear, touch, maybe even smell him. Yet the idea of soliciting his help did not dawn on them. 

"Even so, Jesus went right to work."

John 6:10–13, "Jesus said, 'Please get the people seated.' (There was a lot of grass there.) The people sat down; they numbered about five thousand men. So Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated, and as much fish as they were wanting, too. So when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, 'Please gather up the leftovers so that nothing will be lost.' Well, they gathered twelve whole baskets of leftovers from the overflow to those who had eaten the five barley loaves!"

Max goes on, "I envision the people sprawled out on the green grass, so satisfied that they needed a nap. Those who didn’t sleep picked their teeth. No small amount of belching could be heard. Hungry bellies became happy bellies. There was so much food that twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered. (One souvenir for each doubting apostle?)

"The impossible challenge of feeding 'all these people' became the unforgettable miracle of all these people fed. The Galilean Gazette carried the headline 'Banquet for Thousands!' and this lead sentence: 'Christ did what no one imagined, just as he did at the wedding.' Isn’t that the lead sentence of the gospel message? What we cannot do, Christ does!

He then says, "The problems we face are opportunities for Christ to prove this point.

"If you see your troubles as nothing more than isolated hassles and hurts, you’ll grow bitter and angry. But if you see your troubles as opportunities to trust God and his ability to multiply what you give him, then even the smallest incidents take on significance. Do you face fifteen thousand problems? Before you count your money, bread, or fish, and before you count yourself out, turn and look at the One standing next to you! Count first on Christ. He can help you do the impossible. You simply need to give him what you have and watch him work."

So, will you give him what you have and then watch him work? Will you?

Yes, yes!

   



 

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