Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Daily Devotion

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english

John 6: 7-10

Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).

Although God will test us, in verse 6 it says he already had in mind what he was going to do. Let us entrust everything to the Lord when we are under trial, because His will is higher than our will. It's a pity Philip failed the test completely because he is a believer of the "impossible". When Jesus asked how he would feed the five thousand people, he might call a committee meeting: "The master commands us to feed these five thousand people, how should we do it?" Then somebody said: "Where is the money to feed the five thousand people?" Then another person raised his hand: "Even if there is money, this is the wilderness! Where are the stores?" Then a third person raised his hand: "Even if there are stores, it's getting dark and all the stores are closed! It's impossible!" Philip then told Jesus: "We can't do anything, there's no money and there is no place to buy food."

Many people act the same serving the church today: looking only at people's analysis without knowing the will of the Lord. Isn't it quite often we have this opinion "We have no money, no people, no time! Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!" such that we ignore the Lord's commandments? Brothers and sisters, God does not want us to devise our own ways when He tests you, rather He wants us to come before Him to see what He wants to do because he already has in mind what he is going to do. In other words, we only need to seek His will.

The other disciple Andrew is more adorable. Although after much thought he still thinks it's impossible, he finds a boy with five loaves and two fish and brings him to Jesus: "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" Although his faith is lacking, he is adorable because while wondering "how far will they go" he still brings them before God. Brothers and sisters, you would become bitter if you only look at the circumstances, succumbing to the state of "how far will they go". But if you are willing to obey this God that gives power of life, you will see God can turn people's "how far will they go" into miracles. Hallelujah! Help us Lord, when we are under test, let us come before God to look to Him, to seek Him, the Lord will reveal His mind to us.

Pray with Pastor Tong

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Lord, thank you, because you already have in mind what to do when we are under test. Forgive us for doing things according to our own will; we come before again to seek your mind and to complete your will. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!