October 30, 2015:  SOAP #2157 

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.  40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.  41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.  42 They all [5,000] ate and were satisfied.

Observation:   As I read the above passage, my mind recalled the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.  One of the first things God did was to organize them.  And here, before Jesus fed the 5,000 (Matthew 14:21 says, “…beside women and children.”), He organizes them.  For the disciples to feed the individuals would have taken several days, but to feed them in groups would have taken much less time.  Thinking about the logistics of this miracle raises a lot of questions I would like to discuss with someone who was there.  Did Jesus multiply the bread and fish in his hands, or did it continue to multiply in the hands of the disciples?  Where did they get the twelve baskets in which they placed the broken pieces of bread and fish?

Application:  Organization is a tool that God uses to insure that everyone receives the appropriate ministry.  I hurt my spiritual growth if I refuse to participate in organization.  Organization is also a tool God uses to make opportunity for my ministry.  I hurt my potential in ministry if I cannot submit to organization.

Prayer:   Lord, I trust you to both bless and use me as I submit to the organizational structure in which you have placed me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!