John 6:1-15

John 6:1-15

1 After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). 2 A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. 3 When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. 4 It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews. 5 When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" 6 He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece." 8 One of the disciples-- it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter-- said, 9"There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this." 10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down. "There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted. 12 When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted."13 They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves. 14 The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done. They said, "This is the Prophet for sure, God's Prophet right here in Galilee!"15 Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself.

Food for thought! 

Life is a series of highs and lows. We face valleys and mountains and sometimes it seems that we are not able to go one step farther. Our obstacle, whatever name we attach to it, is totally overwhelming in our eyes. When this happens, the general tendency is to just quit, to give up on the Lord. But, we forget just who God is! He is the Creator, the Master of the Sea, the Lily of the Valley, The Bright and Morning Star. He is the One Who was, Who is and Who is to come! He is still God and we need to remember this very important fact.

Like Phillip and Andrew we often are faced with what is absolutely impossible in the eyes of man, but to God, it is merely an opportunity to display His awesome power. It is an opportunity for Him to showcase His ability to overcome any and all situations, without exception!

Today, I want you to take whatever burden you carry, whether it be personal, work, church: I want you to look at this burden, then look at the greatness and power of your God and finally realize that Jesus can handle it, he knows exactly what to do. Consider each of your challenges as Jesus challenging you, as he did that day to Phillip:

"Where can we buy bread to feed these people? He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do."

Don't panic as Phillip did. Be like that little boy; give all you have to the Lord; do your small part, and let the Lord do his part. Don't say like Andrew that it is too little. Remember little with Jesus is much. With Jesus expect the unexpectable.