How much compassion do you have? How much compassion do you have for a crowd of people that remained with you without food for three days. Ever waited with someone in the hospital with no food and nothing to drink, you know it might be at minimum 24 hours before you get opportunity to eat or drink anything. Last time I sat with my husband at the hospital I think I ate bread and water for three days, because we just did not have money to go out to eat. It was to far to drive back home everyday and I grabbed a bag of hamburger buns, though it was not far to drive. When you are poor you do what you have to do. Anyway, the last night he was in the hospital, nurse brought me some ice cream that gave my sugar level probably a nice healthy boost. How long will you sit without eating, drinking, or even waiting on a love one? It depends on what the problem is, whether it routine, or serious ailment. What people did not know is I knelt on the chair that i had been sleeping in and prayed for a time period, as my husband laid sick. When I arose he was getting better. It be another few months before he have surgery. God was doing a work not only in my husband but in me.

There is a point when it something you care about, or someone you care about food seems trivial. I have a hard time sitting with people, even those I love, but each time is different. Each reason is different. However to remain with a speaker for three days with a lack of food is totally different. I really want to say to the crowd if I did not know Jesus, what were you thinking he is a man. Go to a nearby town and come back if and bring the man lunch. The people that follow the latest guru or rock star are they following to far if they are willing to go without food for that person.

To understand who Jesus is, is to understand this is no ordinary compassion, but a greater love because he knew the crowd was hungry and had not departed from him in the desert for food. He cared about the crowd that followed him. He cared about their needs their healing, their spiritual growth. He took the seven loaves that the disciples had and the few fish and he began to bless it and desperse it to the crowd to eat. He was going to take care of their need. Two things this feeding of four thousand did for the people, it strengthen their faith in him, that no doubt they would of remain even a more days if allowed, but Jesus sent them away. It also left evidence there was enough food to share with more people. That little bit of food had had stretch to leftover baskets, seven in all.

Jesus was showing his means of provision was more then one meal. His means to provide for them was more then one meals worth. That his meal began on day one with healing, and deliverance from evil spirit and then teaching carried over the next two days, which lead to showing his power of provision. Their spiritual desire and need satisfied.

Jesus is showing them the cup over flowing in abundance, yet we only see the compassion Jesus had on the crowd. We only see the meal ticket Jesus provided that took care of their physical bodies before sending them away. Jesus gave them more then a free meal, but abundance of leftovers for their journey no doubt. I don't think the disciples could eat all that leftover, so no doubt it was desperse to the crowd for the trip home.

When you get feed at church do you take leftovers home, do you take abundance of God's word home or only a slice of bread. A slice of bread will not carry you through the week without the Lord's blessing. A person needs a full course meal in church, and a short reminder of that full course meal all week. Take notes while your in church if you can, and meditate on that sermon all week. Some weeks it won't be a good meditation no matter how good the speaker. However that where your Bible is important, the word of God is important to meditate on and be feed on alone. Whether or not you think the sermon is good there is 66 books of scripture God anointed for the service of ministering to his people. Read it. Let God minister to your soul. This practice of study takes time and is not done so easily daily at times, but do not feel defeated, just return when you ready, for God understands even our failures sometimes, and sends those pick me up bouquet called friends, acquaintance, angels from above to help to encourage our task to read more scripture. Times when we need revival, when we sin, when we wrestle with God over a subject and so forth. Those times are times of growth and learning and knowing how important that daily time with God really is, as well as know the importance of following Him.

There is a point Jesus wants to keep our cup overflowing with his word and grace so we can share it with others. Those lunch boxes of faith being carried out to those in need of God's word, from the little revival in the desert. That is what those Christian retreats and online ministries should be about, the revival spirit to help us in our journey.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us even when the mediation on you seem long and we need that lunchbox to carry us on our journey back into the world of work, home, and friends. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: John 6:26-40 KJV
26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.