He Knows What He is Doing

John 6:4-6 The story continues. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do."

He already had in mind what He was going to do. If I could only really wrap my mind around this, and know deep within me, that God knows what He is doing and that He is working for my good. My heart would rest in peace. Yet I struggle and strain in the not knowing.

Our journey as Christians is a walk of faith. It is the crux of the matter when it comes to our relationship with God. We must believe things we can't see. We must trust Him enough to follow Him in all we do. Therein lies the challenge. Yet this walk of faith can be so freeing as we know with God all things are possible.

This morning I read in the Psalms, Psalm 115:9 amp O Israel, trust and take refuge in the Lord! [Lean on, rely on, and be confident in Him!] He is their Help and their Shield.

Refuge: a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. Originating from a French word meaning "to flee" and it is a place to flee to in order to get away from people or places that are unsafe.

When I don't feel safe or protected, when I face an uncertain future or am suffering in any way I can have peace knowing God is my Help and my Shield. Jesus in this case, had in mind to feed 5,000 hungry people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. I can trust Him with the outcomes of my life too, regardless of the limitations I see and feel about my self, my life.

Philip  only saw the problem. His reply was, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" His was a reply of not enough. 

Jesus was trying to teach him that He could be trusted. He could take what they had on hand, their not enough and make it more than enough. The point here is Jesus, the Bread of Life, is enough. 

Lord, You are enough. You are my Help and You protect me. You know what You are doing. Help me to move past just seeing the problem and move toward living in the anticipation of how You are going to work things out. Help me let go and trust that Your ways are so much better than mine. You have the perspective of seeing beginning to end. Forgive me for my impatience, my worry. You know what You are doing. Help me know, really know deep within me, that knowing You is enough. You are my Refuge, my safe place where my heart can rest secure, as You are about the business of accomplishing Your good purposes for me and even through me. 

Even to your old age and gray hairs

I am He, 

I am He Who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:4

The Bread of Life

The Jewish Passover Feast was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do." John 6:4-6 niv

It amazes me how this story of Jesus feeding the multitudes is so rich with lessons. Every time I read it there seems to be more tucked away in it. It is obviously a significant narrative as all four gospel writers tell a version of it, each with their own lovely and unique insights.

Jesus had taken His disciples away to be alone with Him for a bit of time. This alone time with Him was part of the rhythm of life He was developing with them. He desires this rhythm of "life with Him" for us as well. 

Passover is mentioned in this passage. So easy to miss this fleeting reference but this time I asked myself, "Why mention  Passover?"  I was also drawn to the word bread. He asked them where they could find bread. Enough bread for the hungry crowd. 

They had no idea that Jesus, the One sitting on the grassy hillside with them, was Himself, the Bread of Life. He would soon be the One Who would fulfill all that the Passover feast meant to them. 

Isaiah 55 then came to mind and I was reminded of the greatest invitation of all time. And a free invitation at that. Once again I read these amazing words.

1Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! 

Come to the waters; and he who has no money, 

come, buy and eat! 

Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine 

and milk without money 

and without price 

[simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].

2Why do you spend your money 

for that which is not bread, 

and your earnings for what does not satisfy? 

Hearken diligently to Me, 

and eat what is good, 

and let your soul delight itself in fatness 

[the profuseness of spiritual joy].

3Incline your ear 

[submit and consent to the divine will] 

and come to Me; 
hear, and your soul will revive; 

and I will make 

and everlasting covenant or league with you, 

even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David. 

Isaiah 55:1-3 amp

This passage, written hundreds of years before Jesus was even born mentions bread. "Why spend money on that which is not bread?" We do that. We spin our wheels in pursuit of all kinds of crazy things trying to find satisfaction.

This is an invitation to come to the LORD! The invitation is ongoing. Satisfaction, delight for our souls. All we have to do is come. Slow down and linger with Him. Lean in to listen. Ah! This is how our souls are revived. 

I have been thinking about hearing/listening. God seems to ask His people often, to listen to Him. Might it be because we want to do all the talking? 

I think there are levels of hearing. We hear with our ears and sometimes it stops there. In one ear and out the other. And then there is hearing and processing with our minds only. This gives us much information which is satisfying to our intellect, our egos even. And that can be okay.

But then there is listening with our hearts. That is how God wants us to listen to Him. He wants to penetrate our lives and pour into us, all He desires us to know about love and life in Him. His way. His truth. His life. And from this place we are able to pour out. It is the Kingdom way.

Back to John 6, later on in the chapter, Jesus declares, "I am the the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty." 

Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah 55. He is God Who came. The Bread of Life, Who lived, died and rose again. We remember this every time we take communion. Yes, there maybe heartache, trouble and toil in this life but He is the One Who sustains us through it all as we come to Him. 

There is much more from these few verses. Tomorrow is another day. In the meantime, Lord, help me to turn to You. To come but also to listen. Thank you that You are the Bread of Life. Bread which represents Your precious body, broken for me. Thank You for Your willingness to come to me, that I may come to You.

The Way of Letting Go

So David went to Saul and served him.

1 Samuel 16:21 nlt

David had just been anointed King by the great priest, prophet, and judge Samuel. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power. So what is King David's first assignment? He was to serve Saul, the self-absorbed, disobedient, impetuous outgoing king. Not really what you would expect when one is crowned king.

We so want instant perfection, happiness and wholeness in our lives. We so don't want to follow the path of Jesus, the downward path of surrender, servanthood, and suffering.

David spent his youth as a shepherd. David was a type, a hint as to the nature of our True King, Jesus. David's job was to protect and provide safe pasture for the sheep he tended. His heart was shaped and formed in the silence and solitude of the pastureland where his sheep grazed. He was also a musician and as we see in the Psalms, a great poet. I can't help but think his heart for God was forged in those meadows where he had only God as his companion. It was there he learned to sing his songs to His King.

But his training was not over. His new job was to serve this departing king by playing his beautiful songs for him. Anointed king, yes, yet he was placed in a new position of service. There was more learning to come through the crucible of surrender and service in David's life.

This reminds me that I need to hold loosely to my own expectations for my life. I need to surrender to the path God has for me. The path I want to be on is His path. How easy is it for me to be bent on fulfilling my own dreams. 

I want to learn to shift my focus and follow the way the Lord has for me, no matter the twists and turns. Often life presses in on me and seems dark on every side but as I seek God, He helps me see the light ahead. I see it beckoning me onward. It gives me hope and I realize as I let go of my expectations and know He is ahead of me, leading the way, I am okay. This is the way of the cross. Yes, there is suffering in life, but we can let go and see resurrection ahead. It is then we find hope, the anchor of our souls to cling to and the strength to courageously go on. 

Help me Lord, to exchange my dreams for my life for Yours. Help me to serve You well, wherever You have assigned me. Thank You for the light ahead of me and for Your Presence with me on the path.