Do we have the same attitude as the disciples before the feeding of the 5,000?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They answered, \u201cBut all we have is five barley loaves and two fish.\u201d (Matthew 14.17, TPT)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201call we have is…\u201d attitude can be discouraging and blind us to good things we already have that Jesus wants to use. There was a large downtown church, which had a two-story parking lot structure. One Sunday a particularly dour parking usher woefully said to me as I arrived for a worship service, \u201cAll we have is parking up top.\u201d He could have said, \u201cWelcome! There\u2019s plenty of parking on level 2!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus\u2019 response to the disciples says it all:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They answered, \u201cBut all we have is five barley loaves and two fish.\u201d \u201c<\/em>Let me have them,\u201d Jesus replied.<\/em><\/strong>(Matthew 14.17, 18, TPT)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, \u201cI can work with that! For that matter, I can work with you!\u201d Henri Nouwen challenges the \u201call we have is…\u201d attitude with respect to our own sin:<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s mercy is greater than our sins. There is an awareness of sin that does not lead to God but rather to self-preoccupation. Our temptation is to be so impressed by our sins and failings and so overwhelmed by our lack of generosity that we get stuck in a paralyzing guilt. It is the guilt that says: \u201cI am too sinful to deserve God\u2019s mercy.\u201d It is the guilt that leads to introspection instead of directing our eyes to God. It is the guilt that has become an idol and therefore a form of pride.<\/em> – From Show Me the Way<\/a> by Henri Nouwen, Ash Wednesday meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For we are God\u2019s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2.10, NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing\u2014didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus. (1 Timothy 1.12 – 14, MSG)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do we have the same attitude as the disciples before the feeding of the 5,000? They answered, \u201cBut all we have is five barley loaves and two fish.\u201d (Matthew 14.17, TPT) The \u201call we have is…\u201d attitude can be discouraging and blind us to good things we already have that Jesus wants to use. There … Continue reading All we have is…<\/span>