FEED MY SHEEP
“Jesus replied, ‘You give them something to eat.’” Mark 6:37a
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4b. In Mark chapter six Jesus had a great multitude that followed him. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd and had compassion on them. When His disciples asked Jesus to send them away because there was no food, Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.” Mark 6:37a. They were unable in the natural to do this.
From the teachings of Jesus we learn that man needs food to eat, but more important is the spiritual food that man must live by. Jesus asked his disciples to accomplish an impossible task: feed this multitude of over 5,000. Their first response was to consider what they had, which was only two hundred denarii. Finding a lad with five barley loaves and two small fish, they gave this limited supply to Jesus. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and it was distributed to over 5,000 people.
Once they gave Jesus the five loaves and two fish, the miraculous took place. This is a truth we need to comprehend to accomplish our mission. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He met his disciples at the sea side and gave them a directive: “If you love Me, feed My sheep.” Yes, it is impossible without giving ourselves first to Jesus.
The need to feed the sheep has become critical. We learnt that a famine was coming. Amos 8:11 states: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Now the famine is here! There are so many areas in our world that lack the Word of God. Jesus knowing this said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV. Look on the fields they are white for harvest.
Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” Matthew 9:37 NJKV. Are we answering the CALL? Today we can go or we can help those that are going.
The famine is in the world and our families. We need to know the Word to give it. Our love is demonstration for Jesus as we feed the sheep without a shepherd. Let us pray to the Lord of the harvest, study the Word and accomplish our mission in obedience.