Mark – The Facts.

In situations where needs arise unexpectedly with the church body, what is the first thing that comes to mind? A quick evaluation will reveal the health of the any group of people who say they want to “do what Jesus did” or be like Him in their thinking. Most churches (groups of people, not buildings) will want to do what is best. But there are some leadership committees who lean toward counting the coins in the treasury and ask, “What do you expect us to do?”

Jesus turned to his “committee” and said, “This crowd is breaking my heart. They have stuck with me for three days, and now they have nothing to eat.” The disciples response? “What do you expect us to do?”

The next question Jesus asks develops a teachable moment for the disciples and for us. What do you have? Jesus will take what we have, bless it for the situation at hand and miraculously meet the needs beyond our wildest dreams.

What does Jesus expect us to do? Give it all to Him. He will do the rest. Wow. It’s that simple. Think about that for today…take all the time you need…as you read the following…

Mark 8, The Message
A Meal for Four Thousand
8 1-3 At about this same time he again found himself with a hungry crowd on his hands. He called his disciples together and said, “This crowd is breaking my heart. They have stuck with me for three days, and now they have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they’ll faint along the way—some of them have come a long distance.”

4 His disciples responded, “What do you expect us to do about it? Buy food out here in the desert?”

5 He asked, “How much bread do you have?”

“Seven loaves,” they said.

6-10 So Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. After giving thanks, he took the seven bread loaves, broke them into pieces, and gave them to his disciples so they could hand them out to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He pronounced a blessing over the fish and told his disciples to hand them out as well. The crowd ate its fill. Seven sacks of leftovers were collected. There were well over four thousand at the meal. Then he sent them home. He himself went straight to the boat with his disciples and set out for Dalmanoutha.

11-12 When they arrived, the Pharisees came out and started in on him, badgering him to prove himself, pushing him up against the wall. Provoked, he said, “Why does this generation clamor for miraculous guarantees? If I have anything to say about it, you’ll not get so much as a hint of a guarantee.”

Something to think about…
–What do you expect of us? What a great question for church boards and committees to ask every time they meet.
–Churches are not businesses designed to turn a profit. Church groups of people are taught to help people find and follow Christ.
–Some church groups are saving for a rainy day, look at the lost around you, there is a flood already rising!
–We are taught as the Body of Christ to help those in need. Give all you have and see what happens as Jesus blesses it and goes beyond the need.
–As a church group, what breaks your heart? Pray and God will open our eyes to what He wants us to be and do.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Break our hearts of those things/people who break Yours. Take what we have to meet the needs of those around us. Help us to look to You for holy direction, discernment and decisiveness. Thank you for your encouragement today.
In Jesus Name, Amen