The Morality of Jesus in Feeding the Multitude – 5 of 8

When some people hear the story of how Jesus fed a multitude with five barley loaves and two fish, they stumble at the supernatural aspect.  However, I have always been just as impressed with the morality seen in this story as I have been the miraculous.  Let us count the ways.  I list seven – one day at a time.

1. Jesus had been preaching to thousands for some time and became concerned about their lack of sustenance.  Jesus was willing to have compassion on others and go out of His way to help them.  Do you provide food to people in such situations or are you more focused on when and where you’re going to have your own lunch?  Even if you are more thoughtful of other people’s lunches than you are your own, most people aren’t.

2. Jesus was willing to give up what was His in order to make sure others were fed.  Those loaves and fishes were going to be Jesus’ own source of sustenance.  He was giving that up.  Even people who are concerned about others getting fed don’t usually give up their own food in order to make sure it happens.  Jesus had compassion on others and was willing to sacrifice what was His in order to fulfill that compassion.

3.  Jesus could have ignored the hunger of the people by focusing more on His own importance – and no one would have faulted Him for that.  ”After all,” He could have said to Himself, “I’m on a mission to save the world and can’t be bothered with the temporal needs of these people.”  His disciples even discouraged Him from His interest in the people’s hunger.  Thus it wasn’t just Jesus’ compassion at work – it was His humility as well.

4. Jesus was giving away the sustenance of His followers, too.  In other words, the fish and loaves He was going to give away were not just His, they were to have comprised  the meal for His apostles, too.  How many leaders do you know who are willing to deprive their staffs in order to meet the needs of others?  More pointedly, how many leaders could keep their staffs around if they did such things?  That Jesus could continue to command the loyalty of His staff when He gave away their lunch says something profound.

5. Jesus did not ask for anything in return from the crowd.  He did not use the gift to get some return favor from them.  He gave to the crowd without any thought of receiving from the crowd.  How many leaders do you know who behave this way?  Do you behave this way?

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.

The Morality of Jesus in Feeding the Multitude – 4 of 8

When some people hear the story of how Jesus fed a multitude with five barley loaves and two fish, they stumble at the supernatural aspect.  However, I have always been just as impressed with the morality seen in this story as I have been the miraculous.  Let us count the ways.  I list seven – one day at a time.

1. Jesus had been preaching to thousands for some time and became concerned about their lack of sustenance.  Jesus was willing to have compassion on others and go out of His way to help them.  Do you provide food to people in such situations or are you more focused on when and where you’re going to have your own lunch?  Even if you are more thoughtful of other people’s lunches than you are your own, most people aren’t.

2. Jesus was willing to give up what was His in order to make sure others were fed.  Those loaves and fishes were going to be Jesus’ own source of sustenance.  He was giving that up.  Even people who are concerned about others getting fed don’t usually give up their own food in order to make sure it happens.  Jesus had compassion on others and was willing to sacrifice what was His in order to fulfill that compassion.

3.  Jesus could have ignored the hunger of the people by focusing more on His own importance – and no one would have faulted Him for that.  ”After all,” He could have said to Himself, “I’m on a mission to save the world and can’t be bothered with the temporal needs of these people.”  His disciples even discouraged Him from His interest in the people’s hunger.  Thus it wasn’t just Jesus’ compassion at work – it was His humility as well.

4. Jesus was giving away the sustenance of His followers, too.  In other words, the fish and loaves He was going to give away were not just His, they were to have comprised  the meal for His apostles, too.  How many leaders do you know who are willing to deprive their staffs in order to meet the needs of others?  More pointedly, how many leaders could keep their staffs around if they did such things?  That Jesus could continue to command the loyalty of His staff when He gave away their lunch says something profound.

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.

The Morality of Jesus in Feeding the Multitude – 3 of 8

When some people hear the story of how Jesus fed a multitude with five barley loaves and two fish, they stumble at the supernatural aspect.  However, I have always been just as impressed with the morality seen in this story as I have been the miraculous.  Let us count the ways.  I list seven – one day at a time.

1. Jesus had been preaching to thousands for some time and became concerned about their lack of sustenance.  Jesus was willing to have compassion on others and go out of His way to help them.  Do you provide food to people in such situations or are you more focused on when and where you’re going to have your own lunch?  Even if you are more thoughtful of other people’s lunches than you are your own, most people aren’t.

2. Jesus was willing to give up what was His in order to make sure others were fed.  Those loaves and fishes were going to be Jesus’ own source of sustenance.  He was giving that up.  Even people who are concerned about others getting fed don’t usually give up their own food in order to make sure it happens.  Jesus had compassion on others and was willing to sacrifice what was His in order to fulfill that compassion.

3.  Jesus could have ignored the hunger of the people by focusing more on His own importance – and no one would have faulted Him for that.  ”After all,” He could have said to Himself, “I’m on a mission to save the world and can’t be bothered with the temporal needs of these people.”  His disciples even discouraged Him from His interest in the people’s hunger.  Thus it wasn’t just Jesus’ compassion at work – it was His humility as well.

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.

The Morality of Jesus in Feeding the Multitude – 2 of 8

When some people hear the story of how Jesus fed a multitude with five barley loaves and two fish, they stumble at the supernatural aspect.  However, I have always been just as impressed with the morality seen in this story as I have been the miraculous.  Let us count the ways.  I list seven – one day at a time.

1. Jesus had been preaching to thousands for some time and became concerned about their lack of sustenance.  Jesus was willing to have compassion on others and go out of His way to help them.  Do you provide food to people in such situations or are you more focused on when and where you’re going to have your own lunch?  Even if you are more thoughtful of other people’s lunches than you are your own, most people aren’t.

2. Jesus was willing to give up what was His in order to make sure others were fed.  Those loaves and fishes were going to be Jesus’ own source of sustenance.  He was giving that up.  Even people who are concerned about others getting fed don’t usually give up their own food in order to make sure it happens.  Jesus had compassion on others and was willing to sacrifice what was His in order to fulfill that compassion.

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.

The Morality of Jesus in Feeding the Multitude – 1 of 8

When some people hear the story of how Jesus fed a multitude with five barley loaves and two fish, they stumble at the supernatural aspect.  However, I have always been just as impressed with the morality seen in this story as I have been the miraculous.  Let us count the ways.  I list seven – one day at a time.

1. Jesus had been preaching to thousands for some time and became concerned about their lack of sustenance.  Jesus was willing to have compassion on others and go out of His way to help them.  Do you provide food to people in such situations or are you more focused on when and where you’re going to have your own lunch?  Even if you are more thoughtful of other people’s lunches than you are your own, most people aren’t.

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.

Are You Giving God the Cold Shoulder Today? – Part 3 of 3

The Golden Rule is, of course, however you want others to treat you, so treat them.  Think about this with respect to Jesus Christ for a moment.  However you want Him to treat you, so treat Him.

Do you want Him to give you the cold shoulder today?  Do you want Him to be insensitive to your needs?  Do you want Him to pay no attention to you whatsoever?

If you don’t want Jesus to give the cold shoulder to you, don’t give the cold shoulder to Him.

Does this seem too simple a way to relate personally to God?  Try it.

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.

Are You Giving God the Cold Shoulder Today? – Part 2 of 3

God cares about doing what is right.  The Bible calls this righteousness.  We might call it morality.

God is moral.  Some people think God is love…and they are right.  Love is the ultimate morality.  Morality is the full expression of love.

If you want to give God the cold shoulder, don’t give any regard to what’s moral.  Focus instead on your pleasures, your wealth, your approval in the eyes of other people.

However, if you don’t want to give God the cold shoulder, think about your life today in terms of right and wrong – that is, in terms of love versus selfishness.  Think about how you can lay your life down for others – how you can seek what’s good for them instead of seeking what’s good for yourself.  You don’t have to become a missionary to some far flung land to do this.  Start living for your family and friends.  If you already think you live selflessly toward them, ask Jesus to open your eyes to what you might be missing.

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.

Are You Giving God the Cold Shoulder Today? – Part 1 of 3

Has anyone ever given you the cold shoulder?  Call to mind the particulars of such an experience if you can.  Remember the scene.  How did it make you feel?

Now, is that the feeling you want to give God today?

God has not given you the cold shoulder.  He gave His life as a sacrifice for you – to demonstrate His commitment to you.  The least we could do is to make Him feel welcome.  After all, this is His home in which we are living.  Will we go from room to room in it ignoring Him?

Why not love Him as He has loved you?  Why not live your life as a sacrifice for Him as He lived His life a sacrifice for you?

Be a servant to those around you – as an act of devotion to Him.

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.

Repentance to Righteousness – Part 3 of 3

Would you rather walk through life alone…or would you rather walk through life with God?

If you want to walk through life with God, you have to walk in righteousness.  That is, you have to be very moral – because that’s what He is.

Do you think you are already moral?  If so, you’re probably comparing yourself to other people rather than comparing yourself to Jesus of Nazareth.

Compare yourself to Jesus…and step up your game.  You can’t walk with Him if you don’t walk like Him.  The only way to walk like Him is to wake up every single morning with the intent to walk more righteously today than you did yesterday.

He’ll help you if you stumble…but you have to put forth some effort.  Otherwise, you’re not really serving Him.  You’re only paying Him lip service.

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.

Repentance to Righteousness – 2 of 3

Repentance means that we should be sorry for our sins, but it also means something even more important than that: changing our behavior.  What good is it to be sorry for your sins if you keep sinning?

You were called by Jesus to become like Him.  That is, you were called to follow in His steps.  As He laid down His life for others, so you can lay down your life for those around you.

How different would families be if even only one member starting imitating Jesus?  How much more if everyone did!  Yet, don’t wait on everyone to imitate Him.  Do so even if no one else appears to be, because it will still change the world.

Husbands and wives, love each other.  Parents, teach your children.  Children, honor your parents.  When these things happen, watch the world change!

Bible notes on this post.

The purpose of this blog is to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who want to hear about Him without having to join a church – or anything else – but Him.