SCRIPTURE John 6:5-7
When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
RELEVANCE
How would you have answered this question?
Unbeknown to Philip at the time, Jesus asked him a subtle question. I don't think it was so much to test his faith, as we might think of faith, but to see whether Philip thought outside the square—outside of his natural realm. Too often, we don't stop to see what Jesus can do if we think differently as believers. We get so bogged down living the natural life we can't seem to think BIG in the supernatural, a realm Jesus would always like our minds to reflect. Although we are new creatures in Christ, we pray small prayers and expect small answers. How can we ever 'turn the tide' if we don't think BIG?
Fancy being faced with the immense problem of feeding that hungry multitude. The last thing to come to Philip's mind would have been a miracle. We don't see a lot of mass-feeding miracles these days, so when it comes down to it, we've lost more faith than we think and become too scared to pray BIG.
Distorted science, godless educational institutions, and anti-christian sentiment in our media have beaten Christians into submission, as did the Egyptians to the Israelites in Egypt. Praying BIG prayers with expectation has almost vanished where Satan wants it. We've lost our BIG faith. Aaron, Joshua and Caleb's families held onto it in Egypt, and we can also.
Just as the Shunnumite woman did with her oil when Elisha spoke his blessing over her (2 Kings 4:1-7)., everyone fed that fish and bread meal would have asked, "Where did this come from?"
BIG answers have been with us since the beginning of time. We sing songs that God is an awesome God but believe He delivers only average results.
When was the last time you thought, prayed and expected an answer from the spiritual realm?
Initially, Philip thought small. He believed in and followed Jesus and was the person who brought Nathanael to Him (John 1:46). But his faith was young and growing. To help with his own confidence, he asked Jesus to show God to the disciples. (John 14:8). But where did his faith eventually take him? When Philip's view changed to BIG faith, he performed miracles himself (Acts 8:6). God also transported him by faith to wherever He wanted him. (Acts 8:39-40). How miraculous is the Holy Spirit who can change a human being so much?
Like Philip's, our faith can and must change to see beyond the physical. It takes courage and conviction. But it is where Christ demands our dedication and thoughts to dwell.
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord, my faith has been like Philip's early years. Too often, I have responded in a natural manner when I should have thought deeper and more spiritually. Please help me grow into a disciple having BIG faith.
Photo By Joshua Earle