Each of us has our place in the eternal plan of heaven, and as we look about us and see where God put us--with our unique personality, talents, background, ability, desires, strength, and capacity, we can be encouraged to know that when what we are called to do seems "beyond our ability" that God can increase our ability and provide the very help that will meet the situation! When we look at Jesus surrounded by the five thousand men besides women and children, and as His disciples unsure of what to do, we can realize that Jesus feels the need. He also was hungry and weary. He also was one with them, and seeing the genuine need, He relied upon His Father to supply it. What are your needs? What are your wants? Bring the whole situation to Jesus and watch Him provide in a manner as to exceed your highest expectations! Jesus loves to have us sense our need of Him, so He can provide in a miraculous and healing way!
"In our work for God there is danger of relying too largely upon what man with his talents and ability can do. Thus we lose sight of the one Master Worker. Too often the worker for Christ fails to realize his personal responsibility. He is in danger of shifting his burden upon organizations, instead of relying upon Him who is the source of all strength. It is a great mistake to trust in human wisdom or numbers in the work of God. Successful work for Christ depends not so much on numbers or talent as upon pureness of purpose, the true simplicity of earnest, dependent faith. Personal responsibilities must be borne, personal duties must be taken up, personal efforts must be made for those who do not know Christ. In the place of shifting your responsibility upon someone whom you think more richly endowed than you are, work according to your ability." {The Desire of Ages, page 370, paragraph 3}
I love how "Jesus knows our infirmities and has Himself shared our experience in all things but in sin; therefore He has prepared for us a path suited to our strength and capacity." {Child Guidance, page 246, paragraph 5} For example, Jesus knows I love snow, time zones, state lines, and driving. So He planted me in a pastoral district where I get to have many months of stunning snow, minister in both Eastern and Central time zones, live minutes from the Wisconsin border in Michigan, and have long drives as a regular part of my ministry circuit! God is so good! What one finds easy, another may find taxing, and I am glad that Jesus has a loving way of putting us where we would be happiest, because "the happiest place on earth" is "the place where God would have [us] to be" {Patriarchs and Prophets, page 126, paragraph 3}
Happy Sabbath to all! I am so glad to get to lead out in the Communion Service this Sabbath in the Houghton Seventh-day Adventist Church and share in a small way what it is like to break the bread of life where Jesus would have me to be. May God bless you all with Jesus' love today!!