Distributers Not Manufacturers
“You give them something to eat,” He (Jesus) told them. “We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they (the disciples). Luke 9:13csb
While reading a chapter in the book On Being A Servant by Pastor Warren W. Wiersbe, I came across a powerful insight: Christians are called to be "distributors, not manufacturers." This concept brought me immense relief because it eases the pressure that often weighs on those who serve the Lord. As a pastor, I sometimes feel the burden of needing to have all the answers and say just the right things. Perhaps you've felt that way too—whether at work, at home with your kids, or in ministry.
The disciples faced a similar challenge when Jesus gave them what seemed like an impossible task. The crowd that had gathered to hear Jesus speak and be healed numbered about 5,000, and it was dinner time with no food in sight! Imagine the stress of hosting a large party and realizing you don’t have enough to feed everyone. The disciples brought this problem to Jesus, and His response must have left them bewildered: “You feed them!” They must have wondered, "How? What are we supposed to do?"
But Jesus was teaching them—and us—that it's not our responsibility to manufacture solutions or resources. Instead, He asked them to bring what little they had—five loaves and two fish—and trust Him to provide the rest. They were focused on the problem, not realizing that their solution, the Bread of Life, was right there with them. As we know, Jesus multiplied the little they offered, and the disciples learned an invaluable lesson that day—a lesson that still holds true for us.
We can rest assured that we don’t have to manufacture solutions our own. We are simply called to distribute what He gives us to those in need, especially His Word. So, bring Him the little you have and watch Him do something abundant with it. He's got your back—there’s no need to worry!
Agape,
Pastor Frank
Betrayal Hurts
“But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant; there they have betrayed me.” Hosea 6:7 csb
Betrayal stands as one of life's most excruciating moments. Why does it inflict such deep wounds? Perhaps because it shatters trust and exploits vulnerability. In the Bible, following Adam's fall in the garden of Eden, the Lord's mentions of him become rare. This realization struck me while reading Hosea recently. This book beautifully showcases God's enduring love for an unfaithful people.
In Hosea 6, God reveals Adam’s sin as an utter betrayal, violating the covenant they had. We know from Genesis that God and Adam were close. It describes how God walked with Adam in the cool of the day; Adam knew the sound of His footsteps. Yet, everything changed when Adam and Eve chose to obey Satan and themselves over maintaining that intimate relationship with God.
Later, in another garden—Gethsemane—Jesus too faced betrayal and abandonment by His closest friends. Perhaps you've experienced such a rupture in a relationship you cherished. God empathizes with you deeply. He understands betrayal well. In Hosea, however, we witness God's remarkable character—Agape love—as He seeks to restore His covenant relationship with Israel. Jesus, the expressed image of the invisible God, similarly seeks to reconcile humanity with God. Even after His resurrection, He called back those who had abandoned Him, restored them and commissioned them!
God's forgiveness, love, and relentless pursuit of us shine through the book of Hosea. Genesis tells of Adam hiding from God, and the Gospels tells of Judas fleeing and never returning to Jesus. If you've turned away from an intimate relationship with Jesus, know that today, you don't have to hide, He calls you back to Himself. If you doubt this, read Hosea and discover the depth of His love for His children.
Agape,
Frank