CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 935

“Multiplied by Dividing”

…Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. (Luke 9:16)

I was challenged last Sunday by the message I heard preached about Jesus’ miraculous feeding of the five thousand. The Pastor brought the whole scenario to life from the disciples’ perspective.

The disciples had already solved the problem of feeding the crowd of five thousand men before they even approached Jesus. As a result, they did not come to Him with a question but rather with a demand to send the people away. …and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.”(Luke 9:12)

Jesus, wanting His disciples to view their situation through eyes of faith, put the problem back on them. But again the disciples looked to their own natural capabilities for a solution and quickly realized how ridiculously inadequate they were. But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” (Luke 9:13) The disciples were overwhelmed by the problem, yet they obeyed Jesus’ instructions. …And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. (Luke 9:15) The disciples did not understand how the problem would be solved, yet they trusted Jesus. After Jesus prayed and blessed the five loaves and two fish He divided them up twelve ways and directed His disciples to step out in faith and begin dividing up their portion to feed the multitude.

Imagine yourself in the disciples’ shoes facing this enormous crowd with a handful of bread and fish, tentatively breaking off the first piece and perhaps directing the recipient to break off a piece for themselves and pass the remainder around. Imagine the initial knot in your stomach as you stepped out in faith, trust, and obedience. Imagine how your confidence grew as you observed that the portion broken off was not depleted, but rather multiplied again and again. Imagine how you probably began to laugh and step out with more enthusiasm – almost to the point of dancing as you distributed the bread and fish with ever increasing faith—and joy.

How open are we and our church communities to the needy that cross our paths? It may be a coworker, family member, or a stranger that we encounter. Do we ask God to send them away? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (James 2:15)

Have you ever been tempted to withhold the Lord’s tithe? During times of financial crisis, the tithe portion of the income the Lord blesses you with looks mighty tempting. Bring the full tithes into the storehouse…And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10)

The miracle of multiplication occurs in the division. May you step out in trust and obedience to God’s Word and may your faith increase as you divide your ‘portion’ among those in need and see the Lord’s miracle of multiplication to His glory and the glory of His Son, Jesus.