Treating People Right

If you watch the news, you will find stories about atrocities happening all over the world such as those occurring in Syria. You will see stories about gun ownership brought about by the tragedy at the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Right now, there a lots of political ads running. But recently, some of the biggest news has been about of all things, a chicken sandwich. The media seemed overwhelmed with stories about how mean and hateful a man named Dan Cathy is because he voiced his point of view about the definition of marriage. Mr. Cathy is the son of Chik-fil-A founder Truett Cathy. Chik-fil-A, which is a Christian owned fast food restaurant, is the parent company of an organization called WinShape. Mr. Cathy, Chik-fil-A and Winshape are being criticized for making donations to evangelical groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Focus on the Family. These groups promote Christian values and morals. However, according to gay rights activists, these groups demonize the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community on a daily basis. While there may be some individuals that use Christianity as an excuse to do this, the majority of Christians, churches and Christian organizations reach out to all people and do not demonize anyone; and that includes the owner of Chik-fil-A.

It is easy to get caught up in the back and forth when people attack Christians and accuse them of treating others badly. So we do need to be careful. We need to be sure not to come across hateful. No matter what a person's lifestyle is, Jesus loves that person. Jesus died for that person. We need to remember to treat people right. And the word of God gives us instruction on how to do that.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

As we consider God's instructions for us as individuals and as a body of believers, let's also consider Chik-fil-A's philosphy of service. They have taken Biblical principles and put them into action which is a big part of their success. And it is sad to say that a fast food restaurant does a better job of hospitality than some churches. From the moment you enter until you leave the employees at Chik-fil-A are intentionally kind, considerate and friendly. As a church, we should treat the people who come to our church the same way. We should go out of our way to "honor one another" above ourselves. This is especially true when someone new visits our church. We should go out of our way to "practice hospitality". We are to use hospitality like a mechanic uses tools. We should intentionally use ourselves as tools for God.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:8-10

Treating people right; showing hospitality should be our norm. Leaders are to be required to be friendly to strangers. If we all make an attempt to reach out to someone in our church, people who are attending the first time will all be reached. You do not know the burden a person carries as they enter the our doors. They may have no idea what brought them here. Statistics tell us that a person has determined in the first 5-7 minutes if they will ever return. So the first impression they get from us is important.

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited 2 Corinthians 6:3

We don't want a lack of kindness to be a stumbling block to anyone's path to the Lord. We want all to have their hearts open to the Lord. 

Chik-fil-A can also teach us the a lesson by the fact that they do one thing and they do it well. The one purpose God has given us is to reach people with the gospel and show them how God loves them and to help them know Him and grow in His love. Jesus gave us this Great Commission:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

As we reach out in Jesus' name, He has given us an awesome responsiblity that we can be involved in the ministry of reconciliation. God is all about reconciliation and His desire for all of us is to be reconciled to Him and for us to be involved and helping others do the same.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

We need to remember to major on the major and not minor on the minor. We need to major on the one thing God has called us to do. Don't let the minor stuff get in our way of doing the main thing He has called us to do. 

Another thing we can learn from Chik-fil-A is that they are family friendly. They provide a friendly atmosphere that is kid friendly and their stand alone restaurants have play areas and they have meals just for children that include toys. Our children are growing up in a very different world than we did. We need to do all we can for our children and for young families. In today's culture the truth can get twisted so easily and Christian guidance and morals are consider to be negative. We need to be positive to one another, especially to our children.

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Deuteronomy 6:1-2

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

In today's world of technology, we sometimes become too involved with electronics and pass on the talking. But God wants us to be more intentional in our everyday lives - not just on Sunday morning and Wednesday night. This should be a normal part of our everyday life. It is great instruction for a family and for our church family. 

The final lesson we can learn from Chik-fil-A comes from the fact that they treat their employees well. Chik-fil-A is closed on Sunday. Their purpose in doing so is stated on their website: "Chick-fil-A Operators and their Restaurant employees should have an opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so." This statement says nothing of forcing their employees to attend church, but they merely offer them the opportunity. They appreciate and treat their employees well. If you serve in any capacity at NVF, your service is greatly appreciated. To those who do visible things that all can see and those who do things that are not quite so visible and those who do things offsite - Thank You! Thank you for all that you do. Jesus said that those who serve are the greatest. 

Treating people right is so important. It is important how we treat each other and especially those who come here for the first time. Let's practice hospitality and continue everyday to have a welcoming spirit. May we do the ONE thing with our best effort - to help win and equip disciples for Christ. Let's make sure we stay family friendly and we welcome EVERYONE with open arms. May we commit to be the church that God can use, that treats people right.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:18a

Have you reconciled your life to Him?

Does God Like You on Facebook?

Social networking does not have the same meaning today as it used to have. What was once considered social networking generally occurred at social gatherings of all types and probably took place without much thought by those involved. If you attended a party, visited your local hair salon, or any gathering of people, you probably took part in some version of networking with your peers. Now social networking takes place on the internet. There are many different avenues on the internet to network, but one of the most popular is Facebook. Facebook is so popular around the world that more people use it than live in the United States. If the users on Facebook comprised a country, it would be the third most populated country on Earth.

People become "friends" on Facebook with individuals, business and organizations. People can use Facebook to interact with others, post their thoughts and photos and their "friends" can see what they post. New Vision Fellowship has a Facebook page and you can visit to find out about upcoming events, read scripture, etc. Sometimes people post things on Facebook and other social media that is questionable. A lot of employers now visit employees and perspective employees Facebook content to determine if he/she is a quality person to employ. 

Finally, there is another Facebook feature called the "Like" button. This is a way your "friends" can give positive feedback to your posts. If you like a post, you can just click on the  Like button. 

So what if God had a Facebook page? Would God like you on Facebook? One thing you cannot do is unfriend God. You cannot just click a button and suddenly He cannot see you anymore. There is nothing you can do to make yourself invisible to God. 

My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes. Jeremiah 16:17

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13

There is nowhere we can hide what we do, what we say or even what we think. God has a "Facebook" page on each of us and on that page He sees us just like we are; everything we say and each thought that we have is there. And no one has a perfect page with the Lord. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God  Romans 3:23

Even though we are all sinners, we should not be comfortable with that. Even though we mess up and we know we will, God is looking at our lives to see what kind of fruit we will produce.

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:43-46

Jesus was pointing out here the kind of fruit God was looking at. One of the things He was talking about is what we say; the words that come out of our mouths. What we have in our heart, deep down in ourselves, comes out in what we say. God knows what is in our heart. Not only does he know what we say, but what we do as well. What we say and what we do is a direct reflection of what we have inside. The good man brings out good things about the good stored in his heart. The evil man brings out the evil inside him. How we talk and walk are reflections of what is in our heart. What we allow to come into our lives will influence us. There is a term that says "Garbage in, garbage out." There is a lot of garbage out there on the internet. It will pop up when you aren't even looking for and  it can become easy to get sucked into it. 

If we know God and have a personal relationship with Him, what is inside us? We are to be filled with the spirit of God. How do we know that we are filled with the spirit of God? If we are filled with the spirit of God we should show forth His fruit as being inside us. If we know Christ, the fruit that comes from us should be recognizable. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

So how is your life? Is your life producing fruit? Are you showing forth love to other people? Is your life promoting joy? Are you promoting peace? Are you being patient with one another? These are different things God says we should be exhibiting in our lives as we go through life. We need to be active in being sure we are producing. God expects these fruits to show forth in our lives. Showing love, joy, patience, kindness and all of the fruits - these should be our objectives as children of God.

The online auction site eBay offers users the opportunity to leave feedback for buyers and sellers with whom you have recent transactions. If you choose to leave negative feedback, a box opens to asks you to be sure of what you are about to say as it will be seen by others. Here is an online retailer suggesting that you act in a Christian manner. God tells us the same thing. How do we bear the good fruits of God? We have excellent instructions He gives us.

Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:15-21

There is evil in the world. But don't be part of it. Do not be foolish. Be filled with the spirit, not with the mess of the world. When you are filled with the spirit, it shows. You can tell by your actions, words and walk through life. How can we be any more filled with Him. His influence in our lives is only at the level we allow Him to be involved. What can you do to stay full of His presence? Be careful by what you store in your heart. Store up great music in your heart. So many of the songs we sing in church come straight from the word of God. The world offers a lot of different music and we must be careful to stay clear of music that would lead us away from God. What we put into our hearts and minds will reflect in our lives. You can use the following qualifications when you are making music choices.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:3-4

We should also fill up our lives with thanksgiving. There are many thing in our humanity that bother us and leave us feeling like there is no hope; but these can be resolved simply by giving thanks. We live in a country where we are so blessed and we should be thankful. 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

The benefit of being thankful is having the peace of God; a peace that is beyond our understanding. You can take your anxiety to Him. God wants us to do this. God also wants us to make others a higher priority than ourselves. A lot of evil that comes into people's lives is the result of self interest.

  

To bear the fruit of God's spirit, we must fill ourselves with good things: good music, right attitudes, the right humility to serve others. As we consider our lives today and the fact that God knows everything about us, does He like what He sees? Or is there anything he would not like about what we do? Let's bear good fruit. May we overflow with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As you go through your day think about these things and apply them in your lives. And remember to be thankful for the blessings you have and receive the promise for peacefulness. The starting point to receive that peace is to have Him in our hearts. We must have Christ living in us. 

Our God Is An Awesome God

God is omniscient; he knows everything.

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. Psalms 139:1 

God's knowledge is perfect and exclusive to Him. We probably have a hard time comprehending God knowing all of the past, present and future right now. Adam and Eve, once they had sinned, attempted to hide from God. But there is no where to hide from God. It doesn't matter if it is an action, a thought, or speech, God is all knowing. He knows our hearts and minds. He knows what we are going to say before we say it. God knows us better than anyone, just as we are. He knows the real true inner selves that no one else may know.

Is there any doubt whatsoever that this awesome God we serve knows everything?

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. Psalms 139:2-4

Not only do we need to be sure we are not in the wrong place physically, but there are places we need to stay out of mentally. When things anger us, we often have thoughts that we would never verbalize. But remember that Our Savior perceives our thoughts from afar. Before the words we speak come out of our mouths, He already knows them.

We should attempt to put more effort into to what we say. It may seem like nothing when we say it, but to a person we have offended, it is a much bigger deal. With some effort, we can avoid this. We need to be careful with what we say and how we say it. We are all accountable. So if there are things in our lives that we need to repent, then we need to do that.

You hem me in —behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalms 139:5-6

David, the writer of this Psalm, did not understand how God knows all that He knows. While it may make us uncomfortable at first to think of how God knows our every thought, we should take comfort that even though He does know everything about us, He still loves us and will save us from our sins. God knew the true heart of David; and when David repented his sins, he was forgiven. We all let God down, but we can come to Him and be forgiven. Likewise, we need to have a forgiving spirit when we've been wronged. We need to not hold grudges and return to fellowship with another person following the pattern God has for us.

There are a lot of things we may never understand about God, but we don't have to understand - just accept it. He has given us what we need and He is awesome; He is wonderful. God loves us with an everlasting love. He gives us eternal life through the sacrifice He gave us through His Son. We do not need to put on a show for God - we can't fake it for Him. God will let us know what we need to do to be more in line with His direction for our lives. He knows all about us; live for Him. His greatest desire for us is that we be fully devoted followers of Him. He will not force His way into our lives; we must first invite Him in.

It is wonderful to serve such an awesome God!

To Dream The Impossible Dream

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.“ Acts 2:17

"I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:19-21

What about today and our vision? No matter where you are, what that next step is in your life, follow the dream God has for you. But what is the difference between being a dreamer and being a visionary? The word action comes to mind. To be a visionary, you must take the dream beyond a thought and take action. To have vision think of the word revelation. Let's consider two translations of Proverbs 29:18a;

Where there is no vision, the people perish (KJV)

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. (NIV)

When we look around the world today, we are see things happening and wonder how people can think so much of it is okay. Mankind is unique in the ability to change its surrounding influences. If we choose to ignore God's influence, it becomes easier to engage in activity that goes against His desire for us. Things that were once considered wrong now become a part of our everyday culture. When there is no vision of God's correctness, no revelation from God's word, there is no restraint.

When pursuing your vision, there are many questions you must first ask yourself. Is your vision truly yours or the vision someone else has for you? Are you willing to sacrafice to fulfill the vison God has for you? Does working toward your vision bring about satisfaction? How significant is your vision? Is it self-centered or God-centered? If your vision is God-centered, then you must let go of your will and allow His will to be more important. Allow God to speak to you through His spirit, His word and His people.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

When we become God-centered and not self-centered that is when the impossible dream becomes possible. He will give us the desires of our hearts. This is true of all of us regardless of age. We must all strive to not be dreamers, but visionaries. When we have a vision that is God's direction, there is nothing we cannot do. 

We may ask if we can make a difference, especially when we feel like it is just a few against the world. Yes! With God on our side, we are always a majority. When God's vision is our vision, He can accomplish so much. Ask Him to help you with your dream. Ask Him to help us with our dreams. Envision the future He has for you. He will give you power you cannot even imagine. Dream the impossible dream and trust God; and all things will be possible. 

Always Remember

God did not put us on this earth just for us. He put us here for others. Each person we come into contact with is a person of worth in the eyes of God. 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

Each year in May, we take time to memorialize the soldiers who fought on the many battlefields for our country. We should always remember the folks who gave all for the freedom which we sometimes take for granted.

We each have people in our lives who have influenced us and helped us throughout our lives become the people we are. These people should be remembered. In everything in our lives, our forefathers paved the way for us to be what we are. We even have spiritual forefathers. These people should always be treasured and remembered. We are all in this together and we need each other. We are important to each other. And we are important to God, the Creator of all there is. We must continue on our journey and remember what we've learned and continue to learn.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

This is an important lesson - to be thankful and remember from those that you have learned and who have influenced you in your spiritual life.

Finally, the most important person we need to remember is Jesus who gave all and above all for all of us. We should focus on Him each and every day and have Him foremost in our lives. Jesus paid all - the perfect sacrifice for each of us. He paid a penalty we can never do enough to repay and we need to remember that and thank Him every day for what He has done for us. But as great and as awesome as He is, His attitude did not reflect that. His attitude was that of a servant.

"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

Christ came to serve and give His life for each of us. When we think about that, has there ever been a time in your life that you have asked Him into your life? That is His greatest desire to be an active, vital part of your life. He wants to give you the gift of salvation for eternity. He came and gave His life as a ransom for your life. When we celebrate communion, it is a special time of remembrance.

"And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24

There are other ways we can remember Him; with our time, our talents, and our treasure - which all come from Him. We need to remember Him with our thoughts and our tasks as we go about our daily lives. Remember always His love for us that he displayed as he was dying on the cross. Remember His comforting call for all of us to come to Him. Remember His charge for us to go into all the world and tell others of His love for us. We need to remember His commandments that He has for us and to keep these commandments.

But it is not enough to remember Him. We need to know Him in a personal way. That is His greatest desire. It is why He came and gave all on the cross. He wants an all consuming relationship with each of us, where He is part of our lives and our thoughts; and we love Him enough to want Him present in our lives every minute. He is knocking on the door, but you have to open that door and invite Him in. 

You Are The Light of The World

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 

If you know Christ and you have a personal relationship with Him - if you have the Holy Spirit living within you, He is there to help you work through all your fears. God will give you the ability to do what is required; the desire to love when others hate; the self control when all around you are throwing all restraint to the wind. God's will is that you have confidence. When you grow into adulthood, you go through big changes. You must be willing to face your fears and He will carry you through it. To live a Christian life in a secular world, it takes a lot of courage to say "yes" to Jesus. Especially when those around you are saying "yes" to things that are the opposite of what God desires for you. Not only do you have to be able to say yes to God, but also to say "no" to things. Saying no takes a lot of courage. But you are not alone if you have the Spirit with you. 

When you start to make decisions for your own life it is important to make right decisions. A lot of young people take advantage of their new-found freedom and veer off in the wrong direction. They have a tendency to let the world in and crowd Jesus out. Stay true to Him. He has a plan for your life. God desires from each of us that we are that shining light for Him.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 

These words from Christ bring to mind what it means to influence. One definition is the act or power to produce effect. You can have an influence on others or you can be influenced by others. You have a choice and you have to make it, as to which part of "Influence" you will be.

Your relationship with Jesus is personal, but in no way is it private. You are a light on a stand to show forth the light of Jesus Christ. You are called and challenged to be the light of the world. As we shine forth His light to the world, we are not the light: we reflect His light. That is a part of His Plan, be open to His leading, and He will!

"Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:19-21

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

We are called to receive this light. It is not enough to be exposed to this light, we have to respond to it. We have to make a choice. God gives us the right that if we believe and receive Him, we become a child of God. It is just that simple. When we receive that light, we are to walk in it. 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 

Isn't it wonderful to know we have One who came for us to purify us from all sin? He cleanses us in a way we cannot cleanse ourselves. You are a city on a hill, a light on a stand. We are to be His light in the world, reflecting His light. If you are in the darkness, you need to come to the light. And if you are in the light - if you have that relationship with Christ, then you need to start making a difference in the darkness that is around every one of us. We are also to be the salt of the earth. 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Matthew 5:13 

We are here to make an influence for Him the rest of our days. We can only benefit the world in which we live when we live as salt and when we live as light. If the people all around us are living immorally, dishonestly and complain all the time and we are doing the same, what is the difference? We cannot benefit the world around us if we are like the world around us. We are challenged by Jesus Christ Himself to show a better way. Our mission is to be the light of the world. We have a choice to let our light shine, or hide it under a bowl. We can find many excuses to hide our light. Sometimes we allow fear to hide our light. Sometimes we hide our light because of indifference. Other times we claim we are too busy. If you want to shine for the Lord in the darkness, you must keep yourself in the light. Stay close to Him. In a really dark place, a little light can make a big difference. Live you life letting your light shine for Him. 

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 

You are not called to be glorious chandeliers, you are called to be the light. God will decide in His infinite wisdom if you will be a big flood light, a nightlight or somewhere in between. God has called you to be a city on hill, the light of the world, the salt of the earth. He has given you this opportunity. Just open up your heart and let the real Son shine in and commit to not hide that light under a bushel, but shine, shine, shine.

What If I Give All?

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

God's desire for us is that we give all to Him - all of our problems, burdens, pain and sorrow, but most of all we give ourselves to Him. How much of you and yours are you giving to God?

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. John 6:5-6

Jesus already had a plan. Often, in our lives when we are busy trying to solve our problems, what we need to do is be still and quiet and see what the plan is that God already has in mind.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:15-16

Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” John 6:7

When Jesus tells us to do something we believe cannot be done, what is our initial response? Often it is denial and an attempt to evade and avoid the issue on our journey to discover that anything is possible when we give all to God. 

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:8-9

The disciples displayed a hopelessness each of us have experienced. Like these disciples, we may think we don't have very much to bring to Him. But you don't need riches to give all, we just need to bring to Him what we have. It may be that the world has been denied miracles because we did not give all to Him. Jesus wants us to give ourselves to Him. He wants to be first place in our lives. When we realize that, it removes so much stress from our lives.

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. John 6:10-11

It seems impossible to us that five loaves of bread and two fish would feed that many people. It just doesn't add up. But when you insert Jesus into the formula, things change. Without Him you have hopelessness. But if you put Jesus into the equation, then there is hope. There is always hope in Jesus Christ. The impossible becomes possible through the power of Jesus Christ.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:12-13

We see here not only the sufficiency of the care of Jesus Christ, but the abundance of Jesus and what He can do for us. Jesus wants to pour out His blessings upon us. Imagine what he can do to us and for us if we give all. God made all there is and he is allowing us to use some of those things for a while. He does not need what we have, He already owns them anyway. He just wants us to give ourselves, and doing that, we can find real fulfillment.

Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:10b

When we give all without reservation, but serve Him with joy and gladness, then we will have abundant blessings - richness beyond anything this world has to offer.