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WHEN we speak about bees, most people automatically think of stings or of honey. However sweet honey may taste, making it is not the primary purpose of bees. Their most important function is pollinating plants. Farmers here in South Africa rely on bees to pollinate almost 70 different crops. Hives are often imported and situated close to fields for this specific purpose. Around the world, bees fill this important role.

There is similarity between bees and us in our Christian walk. The crusades and other examples in history show that, unfortunately, the church has sometimes caused pain in the name of Christ. We’ve also all benefitted in one way or another from the good the church has done and the sweetness of relationship with God.

Perhaps there is a greater lesson for us — that the main purpose of being a follower of Christ is to “pollinate” the world with the gospel of love and peace by our personal, living example.

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Do It Yourself
August 16, 2011

You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37). It’s easy to miss those words from Jesus. A huge crowd had gathered to hear Him. Late in the day, the disciples got nervous and started pressing Him to send them away (v.36). “You give them something to eat,” Jesus replied (v.37).

Why would He say that? John 6:6 says He was testing them. Did He want to see if they would trust Him to perform a miracle? Maybe, but it seems more likely He wanted His disciples involved in caring for the crowd, to be hands-on in working with and for Him. He then blessed what they brought to Him—five loaves of bread and two fish—and performed the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000.

I think Jesus uses those words with us too. A need pre-sents itself in the lives of those around us, and we bring it to Jesus in prayer. “You do something,” Jesus often says. “But, Lord,” we object, “we don’t have enough time or money or energy.” We’re wrong, of course. When Jesus asks us to get involved, He already knows how He will accomplish His work through us.

What we need is faith and vision—the ability to see that God wants us to be His instruments, and that He will supply what we need.

God uses us as instruments
To help someone in need,
So we must trust Him to supply
When following His lead. —Sper

When God says do it, He’s already planned the resources we need to accomplish the task.

Read: Mark 6:30-44

[Jesus] answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” —Mark 6:37

Bible in a year:
Psalms 94-96; Romans 15:14-33

Happy Tuesday, Dubya. Thank you for sharing fun and insight with us everyday.
WE appreciate all of your posts.

I'm keeping you and your caregivers in my prayers.
May God Bless you and hold you in his healing embrace.

Have a Terrific Tuesday.