Word@Work Luke142 - Luke 9:12-13
Published: Thu, 07/08/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
REVERTING TO NATURAL THINKING
Luke 9:12-13 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here." He replied, "You give them something to eat." They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish--unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." (NIV)
Sometimes we are very slow learners, especially when it comes to faith. The disciples had just been away on mission, preaching, healing sick people and expelling demons. Now they were surrounded by people again; listening to Jesus. By the end of the day (which the Twelve thought was to be their 'rest day'), they came to Jesus supposing to express concern for the crowd's welfare (although the disciples probably just wanted the day to finish and the crowds to go away!).
There were no shops or guest houses nearby and the evening was approaching. So Jesus set them a test - possibly to see how much they had learned during their time on mission. He commanded them to feed the people. Their reply was, "Impossible!" Five loaves and two fish could not feed five thousand men, and the cost of ordering food would have been prohibitive; and anyway, there was nowhere locally which could supply such a large quantity. Alas, they were thinking naturally. But just a few days previously they had been doing amazing miracles with Jesus' authority, yet now they were incapable of seeing that Jesus had given them authority to feed the crowd miraculously.
Are we not also infected with the disease of spiritual short-sightedness? Even though we may have experienced the amazing power of God, the next moment we can easily revert to natural thinking. We cannot see what God wants to do through us, we do not realise that Christ's command is accompanied by His power, and we fail to grow in faith as we give up on the spiritual challenge. Sometimes, like the disciples, we can be more motivated by self-interest than seeing the challenges as God's opportunity to demonstrate His powerful Kingdom. The disciples did not do well with that test of faith: but we have been given their bad example to read, so that we do not make the same mistake. So when the Lord asks us to do something - instead of telling Him it is impossible, ask Him how to do it and move forwards in faith!
Prayer: Dear Lord. How long-suffering You are with Your people, including me! Forgive me for failing to grasp the challenges You set before me - either because I am not interested in working with You, or because I can only see impossibility. I know that because You have all power and authority, nothing is impossible with You. Help me to see that Your Word of command authorises me to obey and to call on Your power, so that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Help me to rise to each challenge You set me, and help me to respond in faith; believing that I can do what You command and so fulfil Your commission. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Sometimes we are very slow learners, especially when it comes to faith. The disciples had just been away on mission, preaching, healing sick people and expelling demons. Now they were surrounded by people again; listening to Jesus. By the end of the day (which the Twelve thought was to be their 'rest day'), they came to Jesus supposing to express concern for the crowd's welfare (although the disciples probably just wanted the day to finish and the crowds to go away!).
There were no shops or guest houses nearby and the evening was approaching. So Jesus set them a test - possibly to see how much they had learned during their time on mission. He commanded them to feed the people. Their reply was, "Impossible!" Five loaves and two fish could not feed five thousand men, and the cost of ordering food would have been prohibitive; and anyway, there was nowhere locally which could supply such a large quantity. Alas, they were thinking naturally. But just a few days previously they had been doing amazing miracles with Jesus' authority, yet now they were incapable of seeing that Jesus had given them authority to feed the crowd miraculously.
Are we not also infected with the disease of spiritual short-sightedness? Even though we may have experienced the amazing power of God, the next moment we can easily revert to natural thinking. We cannot see what God wants to do through us, we do not realise that Christ's command is accompanied by His power, and we fail to grow in faith as we give up on the spiritual challenge. Sometimes, like the disciples, we can be more motivated by self-interest than seeing the challenges as God's opportunity to demonstrate His powerful Kingdom. The disciples did not do well with that test of faith: but we have been given their bad example to read, so that we do not make the same mistake. So when the Lord asks us to do something - instead of telling Him it is impossible, ask Him how to do it and move forwards in faith!
Prayer: Dear Lord. How long-suffering You are with Your people, including me! Forgive me for failing to grasp the challenges You set before me - either because I am not interested in working with You, or because I can only see impossibility. I know that because You have all power and authority, nothing is impossible with You. Help me to see that Your Word of command authorises me to obey and to call on Your power, so that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Help me to rise to each challenge You set me, and help me to respond in faith; believing that I can do what You command and so fulfil Your commission. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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