In the story of Jesus feeding 5,000 men (plus uncounted women and children), Jesus, savior of the world, was thankful to God before the distribution and eating of the five small barley loaves and two small fish. Scripture says He simply “gave thanks.”
This Feeding of the 5,000, is the only miracle recorded in all four of the gospels (Matthew 14-Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6-Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9-Luke 9:12-17; John 6-John 6:1-14).
This story offers six interesting points:
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Christians–we believe in God’s blessings. Early Christians believed, Christians in this age believe, and true future Christians will believe. Unbelievers have their doubts about blessings. They may even ask, “Why believe in blessings?”
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Christians believe in God’s blessings because we believe in God’s word. His word is divine, supreme; it reigns above all, is vast and true. The Bible gives knowledge of God. His word changes lives from ordinary to blessed.
Sometimes, I go to the Bible for specific answers to questions I have right now. I usually find my blessing when God shows me insight. Then there are times I stumble upon a particular verse. A verse I wasn’t searching for, but happened to read and find understanding to separate situation I may be confused about. Biblical insight is a blessing.
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If you are at a loss for words when coming before God for yourself, your family, job, government, or church (whatever your need may be), try praying the prayer Jesus taught His disciples.
Before sharing His example of prayer, what we now call The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus first explained to His followers the importance of praying in a manner that is pleasing to God.
Matthew 6:5-13 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
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In America we use the word love in a wide array of situations. Love. Love is used to describe feelings for people, places, and things. After all, America, don’t we love baseball, country, and apple pie?
However in the Bible, love is usually an action as found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, where “Love is patient, love is kind.” But sadly, love is used so overwhelmingly for feelings on random matters in society, most have come to deprive themselves of the true meaning of love. Love is a deep, endless, all intense commitment shown that does not require reciprocation from the receiver.
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Lift Him Up 