Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 4Sample

From this chapter, we learn something fundamental impacts our lives:

John the Baptist was killed by King Herod, and Jesus withdrew in a boat to be by Himself. But crowds followed Him on foot. When He saw them, He immediately translated His sadness into compassion.

Imagine you lose someone you loved. The last thing you want is to be surrounded by a crowd of people who want something from you. Jesus just lost His cousin and colleague, and He lost him in such a way that gave him a glimpse of what lay ahead for him too. Yet, it is in this moment that Jesus teaches us that when we transform our feelings of sorrow and pain into love for those in need, the world shifts! When we step into that place of compassion, radical things will follow!

But sometimes we’re afraid to go to that place because we think, “what difference can I make?” But the next part of this chapter encourages us to bring what we have to Jesus.

When the crowd got hungry, the disciples brought five loaves and two fishes to Jesus. Surely not enough for thousands of people! Nevertheless, Jesus took it from them, said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave it BACK to the disciples.

Jesus takes our ideas, talents, loaves and fishes, money and gifts, and whatever we have to offer. He holds them before His Father with prayer and blessing. Then, breaks them, so they are ready for use and gives them back to us to give to those in need. This is when we experience the impossible becoming possible!