"Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fast­ing, lest they faint in the way. And the disciples say unto him, whence should we have so much bread in the wilder­ness, as to fill so great a multitude" (Matt. 15:32-33)?

On this occasion, as on many others, a vast throng of people had pressed around Jesus. They were so intent on following him that they had not eaten for three days. In his compassion on them, Jesus determined to feed them. Being in some sort of wilderness his disciple could see no way to feed them, and wanted to know where the Lord could obtain enough bread to feed the crowd. Then Jesus, by a miracle, took the seven loaves and a few fishes and fed a multitude which consisted of "four thousand men, beside women and children." Had his disciples not been so short-sighted they would have known the source of the food. But as they often did they seemed to forget the great power of Jesus. The situation posed no problem for him.

But at this time we are not concerned with physical food. Just as the crowd hungered around Jesus, so men are hun­gering to be fed spiritually. We then ask the question, "whence should we have so much bread...?" Where shall men go to find that which will satisfy the hunger of the spiritual man? Men turn to many sources to find that which will satisfy the spiritual appetite, but most of them are the wrong sources.

To feed the spiritual man, some turn to their own strength. They will fail miser­able in their attempts to be spiritually fed by doing this. Others turn to the religious creeds of men to be fed, and these also leave a hollow void that cries out to be filled. Still others turn to philosophy to satisfy the soul's needs. Again, failure is evident. Even in Paul's day men had turned to philosophy but were always left with a great emptiness, for these phi­losphies were vain (Acts 17:18; Col. 2:8). Man can be spiritually filled (John 6:27). The true bread of life comes from God (John 6:32). Jesus said "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). Where then can man turn to be fed? Only to Jesus and his word. The Bible has been belittled as be­ing passe and out-dated, but it still con­tains the only bread that will give spiri­tual life. Even as he was being tempted by Satan, Jesus said "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). The world in our troubled times seeks tranquility of mind, but seeks it in the wrong places. They cry out, "where can we obtain bread in the wilderness?" Almost as if in reply Jesus answers, "I am the bread of life." Still, the world will not accept him. How strange that men reject the only thing that can keep them from starving spiritually!

Jesus said, "blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matt. 5:6). Why will not men turn to such a plain promise? Most will learn too late where to turn in order to obtain "bread in the wilderness." - Bill Moseley

 

 

 

Decided to have some bookcases made for my office. Did you notice 1 said, "I had them made ...?" That's because both Willene and Allyn want me to keep all my fmgers. But what could go so wrong with a simple thing like some "do-­it-yourself bookcases?" Anyway, they won out and I "had" them made. Of course, the things had to be painted or stained. Surely I could do that with no major pitfalls! Have you ever tried to do something you knew not the first thing about with a kibitzing wife and next door neighbor giving advice?

Well, the first thing wrong was when I found myself breathing fumes from the stain - stuff which I detest above all things. Painting is great so long as somebody else does it. Next I man­aged to knock my can of stain over - and there I am - not nearly done and no more stain. See where the "patience" comes in? By this time I had already banged up one forearm, gouged a pound of flesh from my finger (don't ask me how - I just did it). Made my way to Wal-Mart for more stain, and - you guessed it - couldn't find another can in the store the same color I started with. Moved every can on the shelf - and finally - waaayyy in the back was one lonesome little can. And there it was - my treasure - the right color. Asked the at the check-out counter if my paying her for the stain included her coming over and doing the job for me. Ever been laughed at by a young snippet a third your age? Well - the job was finally done (after a fashion) and I am still alive; just couldn't preach the next Sunday because of allergies caused by the stain (at least, that's my story).

Yes, when it comes to painting, I must exercise  patience above all men, because things can go wrong you would never believe! - Bill Moseley