Have you ever felt like the Lord is asking you to do something impossible?
How do you respond?
Perhaps forgive someone who hurt you badly; or maybe meet a need you simply don't have the physical means to.
How do you respond?
Reading John 6 this morning.
"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 6:5-6 (NIV)
Jesus points out the need to Philip, he begins the dialogue about it. How will we accomplish this Philip? What are your thoughts?
Jesus is engaging in a conversation with Philip to test him, yes, but also because there are two things going on here. The obvious need for feeding the people and the need inside Philip to understand the God he is serving better. Philip needs a bigger picture of who God is.
Philip is where you or I might be in this, he realizes they cannot meet the need themselves. He gets out his calculator, formulates a plan, and realizes that even six months of work can't provide everyone with a mouthful.
The answer, Philip concludes, is "It' can't be done, impossible".
7 Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" John 6:7 (NIV)
Andrew speaks up, perhaps a little closer to the answer. But he still hasn't conceived in his mind what Jesus is going to do.
"Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" John 6:8-9 (NIV)
And that is when Jesus acts, after both Andrew and Philip have seen that they cannot accomplish the task with their own means. They don't have the resources, and the only person they can get hold of to help is a small boy.
Conclusion, the task is impossible.
But then Jesus reminds them, by his actions, that He is with them.
And He can do the impossible.
"Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish." John 6:10-11 (NIV)
Often we don't realize that when the Lord brings these things to our attention, he is starting a dialogue with us. Jesus is always about our relationship with Him. He wants more than workers, he wants family members.
What would happen if Phillip had simply said, "we can't do it" and walked away?
What do you feel the Lord is calling you to do today?
