Greetings!
The crowd had gathered and it was a desolate place. The hour for finding provision had long since passed. This was a true crisis. Perhaps we should send the people off to find food and fend for themselves. But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:16). Just as He did on the Cross, where Jesus' body was taken, blessed, broken, and handed out as Living Bread to all who would eat and live, so our Lord expects us, all of us who find new life in Him, to offer up our lives as He did; to be taken, blessed, broken, and offered to those in need. I have asked for testimonies of breakthrough. This from Becky Powers: One day as I shopped in Walgreens, I was approached by an older woman asking for help in locating an item she needed. After I offered directions, she continued to stand and talk to me, pouring out her life's story to me, a stranger. This woman had lived through more pain and suffering than I could even imagine. It was truly a strain on my heart just hearing it. As she spoke, I heard the unmistakable urging of the Holy Spirit and I knew this was no chance meeting. After almost an hour, it was necessary for us both to move on. Summoning my courage, I told her that I would very much like to pray with her and would she allow me to do that. Not only did she agree to it, but she threw her arms around me and said "Yes, please!" So we stood together in the aisle of the drug store and we cried together and we prayed. I have never seen this lady again, nor do I know how the Lord used this meeting to impact her life. I do know that He used it to build my faith and to grow my boldness to respond to His voice. We may not feel ready. We may not feel equipped. We may look for reasons why we should not act. So did the disciples when they said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me" (Matthew 14:17-18). Once we step out boldly to serve others in His name, once we offer ourselves, we find that He takes us, blesses us, breaks us, and uses us in ways we couldn't even imagine. Where in your life is the Lord saying, "you give them something to eat." Keep in mind, we don't just gather on Sunday to do church. We gather on Sunday to celebrate what the Lord has been doing in and through us all week long as the Church. We gather on Sunday to get ready to do it all over again! I look forward to celebrating with you this Sunday, Rob |
