Nougat 15

Hello siblings

Please note, there’s not going to be any Nougat tomorrow as I will be in transit.

As you receive Todays Holy Nougat, I invite us to see ourselves in the disciplesz’ position. What would our immediate response be?

“That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You Feed Them

I’ve been in the situation when I’m about to eat, but someone passes by unexpectedly; and I put the food away – despite my ‘dire hunger’ – because I have no plans to share! Worse yet, when the interruption delays our personal plans, and threatens to increase our sense of lack. In our own lives when unexpected others opt to ‘crash our party’, what is our initial response? It isn’t always easy to be positive, and see the potential merit in the shifted plans, no matter what it is. Even the spontaneous among us might be challenged by such action.

The disciples were not yet convicted by Jesus’ compassion, what they saw was the stark reality of the moment.

They left the crowds for quiet time

The crowd waylaid them, they wanted to see Jesus

Hours later, they (the disciples) were hungry,

but

There wasn’t even enough food to feed Jesus, nor the disciples.

No one had food to share.

No one was leaving.

It wasn’t their party; but they were now thrust in the role of cohosts for the uninvited multitude. How do we respond positively to such folks and situations? I am confident that there were rumbles of dismay and discord along the disciples. They might even have been legitimately concerned for Jesus’ physical welfare. In the face of the impossible, they decided to take it to The Problem Solver. I doubt they expected Jesus’ response.

Jesus did not say, ‘Okay, bring me what you’ve got, and I’ll see what I will do.’ Jesus said, ‘You feed them.’

No negotiation.

No hesitation.

No uncertainty.

What do we do then, when Jesus seems to overestimate our capacity, gifts, and skills?

Most days, this nougat and the wider text seems to be centered around the miracles manifested with the multitude. But what if it was about the miracle manifested in us?

What happens to us when Jesus instructs us to give to another, or to step outside of our comfort zone for another, and we’re feeling ill-equipped? Because Jesus does ask the impossible of us from time to time. We’re asked to love our neighbor as ourselves, forgive those who’ve hurt us, pray for those who’ve disregarded all our efforts to help; and see them also as welcomed in God’s Kingdom.

In our own impossible situation, what is Jesus saying? Could we be hearing ‘you feed them’ from Jesus?

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May all we seek be found in Christ