“Feeding the Flock” by Neville Buchanan


What an incredible evening of fun, food, and fellowship. Last Sunday evening we had over 50 brothers and sisters in Christ in our home. So many precious memories were created. Bill and Daryl led us in prayer. Tom read our devotional text. And Chris Guin led the singing. All the while Douwene, Jenny, and few other dear sisters where getting the Skyline Chili ready for prime time.

Two thousand years ago a multitude (5000 men plus families) followed Jesus to the banks of the Galilean sea. Jesus asked Philip to provide food for them. But instead of seeing this as a positive opportunity to meet needs, he instead gave a pessimistic reply. John 6:7 (ESV) Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”

Fortunately, Andrew was slightly more resourceful: John 6:9 (ESV) “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” So, Jesus changed their scarce resources to an abundant surplus.

Friend, Jesus still sees the deep needs around us and still asks us to help. John 6:5 (ESV) Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”

What is your answer?
•Is it pessimistically fearful because you’re focused on scarcity?
•Or positively faithful because you’re focused on His sufficiency?