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Matthew 14:13-21 – One thing that John mentions that Matthew didn’t is that the source of the loaves and fishes was a young boy. This miracle was a powerful statement about who Jesus was.
John 14:10-18 – Jesus said that those who believe in him will do the same kinds of things that he did… even greater works. Would we be expected to feed 10,000 people? What does this mean?
1 Corinthians 12 – Works do vary in their size. Some are small and unnoticed. Others are great and very obvious. God gives different gifts and different opportunities to different people. It is God who works in His people.
God doesn’t want us to be overly concerned with the size of our service or whether we’ve done anything worthwhile. The exception being if we are missing opportunities because we are being lazy or selfish.
Gifts and service opportunities vary in their size. God is more concerned about the quality of our offering than He is with the size of our service. The widow with her 2 coins made a fair greater offering than what the rich people around here were giving. There was something different about her heart as she gave. Jesus said that she “gave her all, out of her poverty she gave all that she had.”
God doesn’t “need” anything from us, but he is watching for the quality that we offer and the services that we do. It is these things that give our offerings and services significant.
Matthew 7 – Jesus said that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Instead it will be those who have lived a life that is in line with a life that has been changed by God.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – The Macedonians that Paul is writing about here were great full for what they had heard and learned about God.
God multiplies the gift. The loaves and the fishes that the Lord gave to Jesus fed 5,000 people… plus the women and the children. We don’t know how many the total number was, but what started as a few small loaves of bread and a few small fishes.
1 Corinthians 3:6 – Paul says that he planted the seeds and Apollos watered… but the resulting increase was not of their doing, instead the increase is given by God.
Isaiah 55 – The rain comes down and the snow from heaven and waters the earth. The result is crops that feed people. So also is God’s word… it goes out and it isn’t always obvious but God says that it will not return to him void. The word is always a good and timely thing.
Mark 9:41 – No gift or service done for Christ is lost or worthless. Even something as simple as a glass of water in the name of Christ is worthwhile.
We live in a world that has great needs. The news is often awful. There are situations around us… there is so much need. In Matthew 14 the disciples saw a need, they were concerned about it and that was good. They had a practical solution, but Jesus had another, better plan. It was the power of God that fed those folks.
Will we do the works, and greater works than those that Jesus did? Perhaps this isn’t so much about doing “great big” miracles. Instead perhaps it is more about the work of God in the hearts of his people.
We need to realize how needy and poor we are. We cannot of our own strength do the works that will affect and change other people. We can accept the help and guidance of the Spirit as we grow and we can do the things that God would have us to do.
God is working in his people and through his people. Not just here in America but around the globe. There are many differences but the same Lord. It is God who works all in all.
Acts 1:8 – To be effective in the Kingdoms work we must be before we do. We shall be witnesses before we witness. Redeemed and sanctified and useful and involved in the Kingdom. This is the church doing the work of God. Many humble servants of Christ doing their part, becoming and being what we are called to be.