22010.067 Jesus Knows Our Every Need

“Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.) So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted.” —John 6:10–13

Jesus had compassion for the masses following Him. The people were weary and they were hungry and they were in need of restoration. Like rain on a parched land, Jesus restores our spent spirits and weary bodies. There is, quite simply, no one to which we can compare Him. He is the ultimate restorer of our souls.

Jesus gives instructions to have the people sit down in the soft, green grass. Our God is a God of order and not confusion. Chaos and disorder belong to Satan’s realm. From the stars in the sky, to the seasons in each year, to the songbirds, to the seas, God’s order permeates. I wonder if Satan likes to hold us in chaos and confusion in order to hinder us from thinking; to keep us from delving deeper into the ways of God. Distractions from what is truly important are rampant in our day and age. From the headphones blaring, to the cell phones ringing, to the television blasting; there is rarely a time when silence and tranquility prevail. Yet, God calls His children to this treasure. It is in the stillness that we are able to intently hear His still small voice.

I am reminded of the prophet Elijah who had a mountaintop experience with God. Soon after, he found himself fleeing, hotly pursued by Jezebel who wanted to take his life. Spent physically, emotionally, and spiritually he heads for Horeb, the mountain of God. God sent an angel to strengthen him and he traveled 40 days to meet with his Maker.

“He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the LORD’s message came to him, ‘Why are you here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been absolutely loyal to the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, even though the Israelites have abandoned the covenant they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.” The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Look, the LORD is ready to pass by.’
“A very powerful wind went before the LORD, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden a voice asked him, ‘Why are you here, Elijah?’” —1 Kings 19:9–13

While God certainly can be in the wind and in the earthquake and in the fire, He thankfully most always lovingly speaks to His children through the gentle whisper of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Oftentimes, unfortunately, our busyness robs us of this intimacy.

It is important that we do not let our lives become so busy and distracted that we are unable to get off to a solitary place to meditate and pray, enjoying the company of our Creator. Even in Jesus’ life, the early hour was the most conducive for this high privilege. We find in the book of Mark the habit of our Savior:

“Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.” —Mark 1:35

If this was our Savior’s custom, how much more should it be ours!

In our verses for today, we find Jesus giving thanks for the provision before the food is distributed. I think it is important to note that thankfulness and praise precede the miraculous here.

The crowds had been satisfied when Jesus issued the following direction to His disciples: “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” It is comforting to know that our God is not a God of waste. He does not waste bread fragments, He does not waste our experiences, He does not waste the broken pieces of our lives, He does not waste our failures. Instead, He miraculously weaves together all things in His children’s lives—even the poor choices allowed by His permissive will—into a beautiful tapestry which brings glory to Him. Out of our darkest experiences the brightest light can dawn for those who love Him. God works for His children’s good as we gather the broken pieces of our lives and give them back to Him.

God takes our meager sacrifices and turns them into abundance. With the young lad’s giving of two small fish and five little loaves God fed more than 5000 people, and there were twelve baskets leftover.

Our satisfaction and sufficiency rest in God and God alone. Until we are able to grasp that truth, we will always find ourselves wanting, no matter how much of the world’s temporal treasures we may possess. Our Maker knows how we are made and therefore knows our every need—emotional, physical, and spiritual, and it is His desire to overflow our cups with Him.

Become More

“Be still, and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10

Further Reflections

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water. He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.” —Psalm 23:1–3

“Somehow in the wonder-working providence of God, our worst problems become our best pulpits. God turns our tragedies into testimonies and our emergencies into evangelism. Our testimonies are forged and crafted in the trials of life, our pain has an evangelistic purpose, our problems become His pulpits, and the things that happen to us turn out for the furtherance of the gospel.” —Robert Morgan

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