Worship shapes us into the people God designed us to be. These devotions focus on the shape of worship, ten descriptions of a worshipper.

Order - Part 3
Let’s read John 6:5-15

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Simply put, these people had a need. They were hungry. But they lacked the resources necessary to care for the need. Philip said it would take eight months worth of a person’s income in order to feed a crowd this large. There was no way they could do it. But God made a provision. Andrew saw a boy who was willing to share his food (or Andrew was bigger than the unwilling kid). Jesus took what God had provided and used it with thanks. He recognized God’s provision and shared it with the people. But he did not do so haphazardly. Don’t waste what God provides! Jesus instructed them to get the leftovers so nothing would be wasted.

When the people saw this great miracle they responded in worship. You may not think of it as worship, but it was! They didn’t pull out hymnals and choir robes (although they could have). They worshiped Jesus with words of praise. This guy is the prophet we’ve been looking for. He’s here to speak God’s message to us. This is the Messiah, here to save us from all evil. When God provides for our needs, our natural response should be worship.

One more important note on the last verse: Was Jesus rightfully a king? Yes, of course, he is the King of kings. So would it have been a good thing for these people to crown him as their king, to worship and serve him with their lives? Maybe, maybe not. We often want good things. Worshipping and serving Jesus as king is a good thing. We often plan things that are right. They planned to make Jesus their rightful king. But God had a better plan that involved Jesus’ self-sacrifice to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus knew it was not the right time for him to be crowned as the king of these people. Plan good things. Plan right things. But always remember God’s plan, God’s order may be different – better – than ours.

Lord, thank you for the many ways you provide for our needs. We recognize your provision and turn to you with gratitude in our hearts. Let our blessings reminds us of the ways you invite us to participate in your ministry to provide for the needs of others. Just as Jesus used what you provided to satisfy the needs of those people, I will give myself to doing the same. Let me be wise in the way I use what you provide. Help me be wise with the use of my skills, my time, my energy, my attention, and my passion. Let your provision and ministry lead people to worship you. And in all this, help me to remember that as I plan good and right things, you plan and your order may be different – better – than mine.

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