| Devotional Hours with the Bible |
Chapter 25 |
Page 5 |
It is interesting to note the manner in which Jesus enabled His disciples to feed the people. First they brought their loaves to Him. That is what we should always do with our little — we should bring it to Christ, that He may bless it. If the disciples had tried themselves to feed that hungry crowd with their five loaves, they would not have been able to do it. If we try in our own name to bless others, to comfort the sorrowing, to uplift the fallen, to satisfy the cravings of men’s souls, we shall be disappointed.
The method of distributing the provision is suggestive. Jesus did not Himself pass the bread directly to the multitude — he gave it through His disciples. Study this picture. Jesus stands here; close about Him stand His disciples; beyond them is the great multitude. Jesus is going to feed the hungry people with the disciples’ loaves, but the bread must pass through the disciples’ hands. It is in this way that Christ usually blesses men — not directly, but through others. When He would train a child for great usefulness, He puts love and gentleness into a mother’s heart and skill into her hands, and she nurses the child for Him. When He would give His word to the world, He inspired holy men, and they wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. When He would save a soul, He sends not an angel, but a man or a woman redeemed already by His grace, to carry the message. This suggests the responsibility of those to whom Christ passes the bread of life. It is not for themselves only, but for themselves and those who are beyond them. Suppose the disciples had fed themselves only from the loaves, and had not passed on the food; the people would still have hungered, while provision enough for them was close at hand.
Notice the careful economy of Christ. He bade them gather up the fragments that were left, that nothing might be lost. Though He had so easily made a little into a great supply of bread that day, yet He would have the fragments saved. We are all apt to be careless about fragments, especially when we have plenty. We should be careful of the fragments of our time. Most of us waste plenty enough minutes every day to make hours. Every moment of time is valuable; in it we may do something to honor our Master and help one of His little ones. Let us take care of the golden moments — the fragments will soon make a basketful. We should let nothing whatsoever be lost of all that God gives us.
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