“Earlier this morning,” Stan commented, “I was again focusing on the story of the feeding of the five thousand. Something caught my attention.”
“That’s an amazing story of how all those people were fed with just a few fish and a little bit of bread,” I replied. “What caught your attention?”
“It’s where Jesus looked,” Stan said, “and how I’m to do the same thing.”
“Where Jesus looked? Same thing? How so?”
“Quick summary of what was going on,” Stan replied. “Jesus was teaching a whole bunch of people about the kingdom of God. At one point it was time for the people to take a break and grab something to eat, but there was nothing there for the people to eat. Some of the disciples suggested to Jesus that He send the people away to get their own food.”
“But that wasn’t a real good idea, was it?”
“It wasn’t,” Stan replied, “They were in a pretty remote place without a lot of grocery stores and restaurants.”
“Then what?”
“Jesus told the disciples to feed the people,” Stan replied, “but the disciples told Him they only had five loaves of bread and a couple of fish. Then Jesus told them to have the people sit down and He would take care of it. That’s when the important part for me happened.”
“What’s that?”
“Luke records that Jesus looked up to heaven,” Stan replied. “And that’s what I’m supposed to do, rather than look in any other direction or in any other place.”
“Where else could you look?” I asked.
“Self,” Stan replied. “Or the world. Or the flesh. Or the devil. There are lots of places a person can look when help is needed, but, just like Jesus did, I’m supposed to look up to heaven all of the time for everything. Don’t be looking in the wrong place or in the wrong direction!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. Luke 9:16.
And Jesus raised His eyes and said, “Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me.” John 11:41.
These things Jesus spoke; and lifting His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee.” John 17:1.
But being full of the Holy Spirit, he (Stephen) gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Acts 7:55.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you are always available for me to look up and call upon you in heaven. I confess that too often I don’t call upon you in my time of need, but I call upon myself, or I call upon something or someone other than you, all of which is always inadequate. Please forgive the foolishness of not looking to you for all of your provision. Help me to follow every step of your lead so I do, in fact, always look up and call upon you for everything in my life. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you called upon God in the sense that you have accepted His free and gracious provision to spend eternity in His presence? If no, why? What’s in the way? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with looking up to heaven and calling on God for everything in your life? Are there things you think you can handle on your own and you don’t bring them before God? If you sense the need for change in looking up to heaven, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 