Scripture: John 6.  

OBSERVATION
(What is God saying here?)

John 6:5-7 (NLT)

5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”

6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

John 6:16-21 (NLT)

16
That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!”
21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!

APPLICATION
(How Can I apply what God is saying here to my circumstances today?)

So many times we come to a point in our lives when we realize that we don’t have all the answers, and we don’t know the right step that we should take next. Often we wonder how we will overcome the huge obstacles that stand in our way, for they always seem so huge that it appears like we could never get over them or through them. There is a song with the words “God specializes in things thought impossible“, but when we are in the middle of our challenges we often feel so overwhelmed about what we can do, that we seldom look to and depend on the One that can handle all of our problems and conerns. As I meditated on this chapter I felt a strong sense of God saying that He Will Make A Way, even we think there is no way. In this first passage I am reminded of all the shopping that we do when we invite a family over for dinner, yet Jesus saw well over 5,000 followers all around Him that needed feeding. To Philip and the other disciples, this was an impossible task given their very limited supplies, but to Jesus this was merely a reason to multiple what they actually had, so that all would be fed and still be left with tons of leftovers! Wow, can He make a way for us too? I have no doubt friend! In the second passage the disciples got impatient waiting for Jesus, so they did like many of us would do today, they thought to handle the next step all by themselves – under their own strength and power and wisdom, so they jumped in a boat and tried to row over to the other side of the river. Of course a storm arose and the disciples feared for their lives, but Jesus did the impossible (walked on water) to get to His followers and as He approached the boat the waters subsided. Notice also that when Jesus stepped into the boat and relieved the fears of His followers, immediately they were at their destination. It’s like He realized that they were probably too weak to row anymore so He took care of the rest for them. Friend of God, I have no reason to doubt that Jesus wouldn’t do the same for us today. He knows the financial struggles that we face. He knows the medical conditions that exist. He knows the challenging relatives, friends or even church members that we deal with, but He’s Still God and He can do what often seems impossible to us! Our part in all of this friend, is:

1. We must know Him personally in order to call on Him for help – surrender first!
   
2. We must not worry when troubles arise, but have faith in the One who specializes in things thought impossible!
   
3. Call on Jesus to meet us and provide for us in our times when it seems like all is lost and there is no way out or over the situations of this life. Remember, He’s still God!
   

PRAYER
(With God’s help, what am I going to do differently today because He said it?)

Lord Jesus, I thank You for opening my eyes to the overwhelming power of the God that I love, adore and serve. Thank You for reminding me that You can make a way when there seems to be no way (in my eyes at least). Please help me to have confidence today and every day in the Master of the sea, the Provider of food for the 5,000, the only One that can calm the seas. Please help me to go forth in confidence today knowing that You are in control! Thank You for being such an awesome, powerful, loving God!

 

àWords underlined may be a hyperlink to a song that God laid on my heart while sharing this devotional this morning. Click it and be blessed by the song, like I was when I listened to it! …… I would be overjoyed to have the opportunity to pray with you about a need in your life that may, or may not have been highlighted by this Nugget today. Why not drop me a note and tell me about it? You may email me at:
nuggetsfromgodsword@yahoo.com.
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