Let’s go a-pondering again. A little background on what has taken place before this verse…
John the Baptist…beheaded by Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and Perea.
John’s disciples…after burying his body…find Jesus to alert Him.
After hearing the distressing news, Jesus departs by boat on the Sea of Galilee. To be alone in a deserted place.
But when He lands, the rumor of His presence spreads and thousands flee the surrounding cities, bringing their sick to Jesus for healing.
Seeing the multitude, Jesus is moved with great compassion.
He heals…and heals…and heals…until the setting sun nestles into the hills like a golden egg. And now, hunger grumbles in the stomachs of 5,000 men plus women and children.
A need arises. What to feed all these people? All that is available is five barley loaves and two small fish in a boy’s basket.
Bring them here to Me, Jesus says.
I love reading and re-reading portions of Scripture like this. Letting it soak into my spirit. Pondering it.
Deep within me, I hear Jesus whispering to me, Bring them here to Me.
Bring what, Lord?
All your burdens, your sins, your failings, your weaknesses, your lack…whatever need you have. Bring them here to Me. Give all your worries and cares to Me. Cast all your anxieties on Me.
But do I offer them up to the Lord? Or do I carry around my little basket of old loaves of resentment, unforgiveness, or pride and smelly ol’ thoughts and things of the past?
No matter what circumstances disrupt my life or what lack I am experiencing, I bring it all to the Lord. In essence, I dump it all on Him!
My quirky mind goes to work again and hears the whispers of the old movie Miracle on 34th Street (1947). In the trial to prove the reality of Kris Kringle as Santa Claus, the judge wants to see the proof, a letter that has gone through the United States Post Office, and he says to the lawyer for Kris Kringle, “Bring it here to me.”
The lawyer hesitates. Again, almost whispering, the judge slowly says, pointing to his desk, “Bring it here. Bring it here to me.” Then, bag after bag of Santa letters written by children get dumped on his desk and pile up in front of him.
This is how I imagine dumping my basketful of trials and needs…right on God’s desk. I lift them up and pour them out, in faith and prayer, and say to Him, “I can’t handle these, Lord. You take care of them!”
Bring them here to Me, He says.
When handed to the Lord, the very trials and circumstances that threaten to overtake me become opportunities for Him to work, to fill me with His supply. As Paul said, “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19 Amp)
He fills the emptied basket of my heart and “fills my life with good things” (Ps. 103:5 NLT), “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” (Ps. 107:9 NKJV) Then, “My cup overflows with blessings.” (Ps. 23:5 NLT)
Bring them here to Me, He says to you.
Will your answer be, “Yes, Lord.”
***This post first appeared 6/3/13
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