MUSIC BLOG 07-24-2025
MUSIC BLOG
07-24-2025
Go Big or Go Home
John 6:1-15
ESV
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
6 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
To say I have trust issues is putting it mildly. I have been hurt, left out, forgotten and discarded in my personal and professional life. I always try to be positive and I feel I’m somewhat successful in that, but there are nagging doubts in my life. When I came to my present church in 2020, it was amid the COVID pandemic. The outbreak broke the will of many churches, and I think broke the heart of God as He looked for someone and some church to remain faithful in all the doubt and fearmongering. Our church was not immune to the COVID-19 reaction, and one of the ways we responded was to refrain from participating in any foreign missions. If the full truth were told, we also backed down from local missions for a time. I tried, unsuccessfully, to engage others in missions and even went to Boston/Providence to map out plans for a stateside mission endeavor. Not one person was interested or excited about going. But I felt a burden to go. In 2024, Ronda and I signed up to go to Italy with my friend Bart Culpepper. We went and returned. Our church participated in a fundraiser or two but no one wanted to or was able to join us for various reasons. I was discouraged when I returned. My wife was discouraged. I was dangerously close to calling it quits. In fact, I laid out several things that would have to occur before I would consider going: 1. We would need a team of 5 or more people to go, 2. We would need a group of people who would help in fundraising and be our support group, 3. The cost of the trip would be provided by the fundraising efforts.
Fast forward to July 24, 2025. Our church took a team of 5 to Italy. We had a support group that helped us raise money and awareness. The trip cost was covered by the fundraising efforts. Jesus asked Phillip where they could go and buy bread for the 20,000 people gathered there on the mountain. Jesus knew how far they were from town. Jesus knew that the local bakeries probably wouldn’t have the supplies to make enough bread for that many people. Jesus asked the question to test His disciples. Andrew brought a young lad with a sack lunch to Jesus, but prefaced the gift with, “What is this among so many?” Jesus took the gift and made it more than enough for all the people. What can we learn from this?
We should never assess our circumstances until we hear from God. Jesus gave an impossible task to the disciples. He gave it knowing full well that they were not up to the task. Jesus didn’t modify His command. Jesus did answer and fulfill His demand in such a way that the people were filled with awe, wonder, and great glory was given to God. When faced with such a task, most of us give up. We refuse to let God work miraculously in our circumstances. I laid out a plan for God to follow, and He graciously answered every one of my requests. I admit my faith was lacking. God did not chastise me but showed me He was at work by answering those prayers. As a result of this mission trip, our church is starting to trust God again in bigger and different ways.
So, what is God doing in your life? How much longer are you going to sit on the sidelines waiting for God to move you? Maybe it’s not time to give up, but rather it's time to get back in the game. God won’t put you out there without the promise that He will provide for your every need. Your fear of failure can’t be greater than your desire for God to use you.
God is great, and He is in you. I look forward to hearing from someone that God uses in a great way this week.
Blessings,
Marty