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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Ian Moore and are based on Mark 8 & 9 (NIV)
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Mark 8 & 9
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around,
11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
Sunday July 6 - Be involved
When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people... Mark 8:6
Jesus, having fed the 5000 (Mark 6:30-44), now feeds the 4000 – this time with two extra loaves but five fewer baskets! We readily term the crowd ‘the 4000’ but Jesus saw them as individuals, each needing sustenance. Similarly, Jesus knew the disciples’ needs; he chose to give each the opportunity to be involved in the miracle that was to unfold through the willingness of their hands.
Dear friend, you are more than a number, or just a part of the mass called ‘humanity’; God knows you by name (John 10:3) and wants to involve you in his mission. He is passionate about having you work alongside him, not to be an onlooker but as a participant. This is all about his amazing grace; Jesus could have met the people’s needs without the help of the disciples, but he chose to involve them in his work of compassion. Jesus’ intent is to engage you in extending his love to a hurting and broken world.
What you have in your hand may seem inadequate, but that does not matter. The key is knowing from whose hand you received it: Jehovah El-Shaddai, the all-sufficient God, the God of more than enough. Simply put, you can give only what God has given you; it’s your responsibility from there on in.
Heavenly Father, my hands are open. Please give me faith to believe that I may do greater things than I can imagine, for the glory and honour of your Name. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR TODAY