We don’t know where the future will take us. We can merely speculate what may or may not happen, and we can make an educated guess that turns out correct from time to time. But for the most part, we must walk in faith. Some people do not believe. Some people do not know God. Some try to control their lives, and believe they have got it all figured out.
This past week my Bible study group discussed the feeding of five thousand. Most are familiar with this event, and it is one of the few events that appears in all four of the Gospels. When all of the people stood before Jesus and His disciples, He told the disciples to feed the people. After seeing so many miracles and healings before this event, the disciples didn’t think of anything except how THEY could get the food for the multitudes. This was not just five thousand people– this number was the men; women and children increased this number. Some believe that there was close to 15,000 people involved in this memorable event. But what did the disciples look to when seeking a way to feed this large group? They immediately thought of the cost, the cost of food to feed so many. They tried to figure out how to get the money to feed the people.
Are there times in our lives when we come across a problem, and we look for our own solution? Are there times when perhaps we try to figure out how WE can solve a problem, rather than taking it to God? Perhaps we like to think we are doing a good thing by solving our own problems. Or maybe we think that the issue is so small, so why bother God with it– we will hold out for a bigger issue. The problem is that God wants to be a part of our lives. He has a great interest in EACH one of our lives. He doesn’t care how small or how large the issue. He wants to be involved. He is always there, ready for us to ask, ready for us to talk. He listens 24/7, wherever we are, and there are no cell phone overages and no waiting to say our piece.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Luke 11:9-10 [NIV]
“Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.” – Galatians 2:16 [NIV]
Tania Gutekunst 