Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 47 Mark 6:30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So, He began to teach them many things. 35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.” 37 He answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” 38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41 When He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 They all ate and were filled. 43 They took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. How do you explain the unexplained things in your life? Most people, when confronted with hopeless situations, stand amazed by what happened to them. They have no words or explanations for what happened. Jesus had sent His disciples by twos into the villages to preach the gospel and heal those who were sick. When they returned and told Jesus what they did, He took them to a deserted place. However, the people saw them and followed Him because they saw the miracles, He and His disciples did among them. Jesus taught them until late in the day. His disciples told Him to send them away so they could buy food so they could eat. Instead, Jesus told them to give them food. Surprised by His response, they told Him they didn’t have enough money to buy food for the people. Jesus told them to give them what they had: five loaves and two fish. When the people sat on the grass in companies of hundreds and fifties, Jesus looked up to heaven, blessed the food, and gave everyone enough food to eat. When they finished, they had twelve baskets of leftovers. They had fed five thousand men, plus women and children. Many Christians are like the disciples. They want to send people away instead of helping them with their needs. They don’t have compassion for those who came to hear them preach the Word. Their sole purpose is to preach the Word, move on to another place, and do the same. Yet that is not what Jesus wants you to do. He wants you to treat people the same way He treated them, with compassion, taking care of the whole person. When Jesus saw the people’s needs, He provided for them. He blessed the food, thanking God for what His Father provided for them and gave them as much as they needed. When confronted with a person’s need, you look at what you have in your hand and don’t see how you can help them and want them to go take care of their own needs, not realizing God has a greater purpose for those in need, and for you. James wrote to the people about what they did. James 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (NKJV) Jesus showed the disciples what they needed to do when confronted with impossible situations. He blessed the little they had and gave everyone their fill. Don’t look at the little you have and doubt what God can do. Place the little you have in God’s hands and watch Him multiply and fill the needs of the people. Not only will you bless God, but He will also increase your faith and give you an unexplained miracle. What looks impossible in your life? Bless God and watch Him work. Let’s pray: Father, increase my faith. Take the little I have and multiply it so I can help those in need. Let me bless You as I bless those who need a blessing. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 30 August 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.