There are at least 2 incredible lessons about life that we can learn from this feeding of the 5,000 men. The first lesson we looked at in yesterday’s devotion was what we call “THE YARDSTICK LESSON.”
Simply put, the yardstick lesson is a lesson that teaches us not to measure a problem or a challenge according to our current abilities or resources but to respond to this challenge by “crying out to God.”
The second lesson we want to look at in our devotional today is what we call “THE SCALES LESSON.”
LESSON 2: THE SCALES LESSON
Simply put, the scales lesson is a lesson that teaches us not to try and balance a problem or a challenge according to our current abilities or resources but instead give our resources over to God to use realizing little in the hands of Jesus becomes much.
Let’s look at John 6 again and look at what verses 8-9 say. “One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, ‘there is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?’” John 6:8-9
So what do I do in situations like this? CRY OUR TO GOD and tell Him all that you have belongs to Him and that if He wants to use those resources they are His. What you might feel like is little may not be as little as you think when you put it in the hands of Jesus Christ.
I want you to take just a moment and ask yourself this question: In what areas of my life have I decided that I have too little to make a difference?
We often make mistakes when we look at our circumstance and say I just don’t have enough money. Or I just don’t have enough time. Or I just don’t have enough energy.
Our resources may be small just like this little boy who had two fish and five barley loaves but He gave those loaves to Jesus and little in the hands of Jesus becomes much. Just think about what Jesus did with those two fish and those five barley loaves.
The miracle is so simple. It’s not like lightening comes down from heaven and the bread begins to grow and multiply. No, Jesus gives thanks for what is given, and as He breaks it, it begins to multiply.
This little boy didn’t have much, but he gave it all to Jesus and little in the hands of Jesus becomes much. What are you doing with the little resources that you have? Have you given them to Jesus so that little in His hands becomes much?
Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why doesn’t God make our
lives easier? Why doesn’t God just give us all the time that we need to do everything we want to do? Why doesn’t God just give us all the money we need to do everything we want to do? Why doesn’t God give us all the personnel that we need to do all that we want to do?
I think you probably know the answer but just in case you don’t, let me share with you what I think is the answer. If I had all the time, all the money, all the personnel I needed to do all that I wanted to do, I would never learn to CRY OUT TO GOD and develop my relationship with Him. It’s just that simple.
It’s in the very lack of resources that I begin to realize how very much I need God. It is also in those lack of resources that I learn the very valuable lesson that: “Life is not about you or what you want to do for God. Life is about God and how God wants to express His love for others through you.”
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In your prayers remember to pray for God’s Work here in Northern Thailand.
Please remember to pray for our growing ministry to Chinese students that come to Thailand to study at two universities here in Chiang Rai. Over the past 17 months we have seen many Chinese students come to know Jesus. God is using our “English Corner” ministry at the university, our church, and our English language school as a tool to reach and disciple these folks.
We asking you to pray for God to raise up an ethnic Chinese person who speaks English well to come out and serve as our “Chinese Ministry Coordinator.”
Reaching, Teaching, Discipling, Equipping, Training, and Serving God’s World in compassionate ways is what NTIM, Baan Athitaan Church, and Grace Language School are all about.
Love & Prayers,
Pastor Michael