AWAKE BIBLE IN A YEAR OCTOBER 17
Read Matthew 10, 14, Mark 6:7-56, Luke 9:1-17, John 6
Jesus is confronted by a need. He turns to his disciples and says, ‘you give them something to eat.’ Mark 6:37 Jesus is ever teaching. SEE THE NEED? Be a part of the solution. It’s the way when I was on a mission trip, and at orientation they said, ‘if you see something that needs cleaning, clean it.’
Malachi 3:10-12 tells us we can test GOD. JESUS however, flipped the tables and used provision to reverse the test. DO WE TRUST PSALM 112:5? Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely. GOOD WILL COME?? JUST BY ATTEMPTING TO MEET THE NEED? AHHHH YEAH THIS IS A TEST! He had given them authority, and sent them out no bread, no bag, not even two shirts. Lessons in lack lead to miraculous faith.
Our provision tests us. Jesus did this to test them, for he already knew what he was going to do. (John 6:6) God knows how to pay the bills. What route will they chose? SOME store up in barns and don’t live generous toward God. They are mentally thinking only of their own gain and ease in life. ‘I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.’ (Luke 12:18) Some give away their lunch money to God’s will and work like the young boy with his lunch and STILL THEY have enough.
The cost to feed 5,000 is way beyond their capacity. The amount totaled about 8 months wages. They resource only 5 loaves and 2 fish. YET with GOD all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) After JESUS blessing, and the constant generous distribution of bread and fish ‘they all ate and were satisfied.’ Mark 6:42
BLESS what we have LORD, and when we GIVE let us find it is enough. More than that, fill our lives like an over stuffed Christmas table with an abundance and leftovers. Your economics are superior.
Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
1 Tim 6:17-19, 2 Cor 9:10-15 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
