Christianity Oasis Forum

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18


SOLITUDE AND SERVICE

READ:
LUKE 9:11
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He welcomed them
and spoke to them
about the kingdom
of God, and
healed those who needed healing.
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Comedian Fred Allen said, "A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well-known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized." Fame often brings loss of privacy along with a relentless frenzy of attention.

When Jesus began His public ministry of teaching and healing, He was catapulted into the public eye and thronged by people seeking help. Crowds followed Him wherever He went. But Jesus knew that having regular time alone with God was essential to maintaining strength and perspective.

After Jesus' twelve disciples returned from their successful mission "to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick," He took them to a quiet place to rest (LUKE 9:2, 10). Soon, however, crowds of people found them and Jesus welcomed them. He "spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing" (v.11). Instead of sending them away to find food, the Lord provided an outdoor picnic for 5,000! (vv.12-17).

Jesus was not immune to the pressure of curious and hurting people, but He maintained the balanceof public service and private solitude by taking tiime for rest and for prayer along with His Father (LUKE 5:16).

May we follow our Lord's example as we serve others in His name.

**Dear Father, as Jesus Your Son and our Savior honored You in solitude
and service to others, may we follow His example in our lives.
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Turning down the volume of life allows you to listen to God.

*************************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 9:1-2, 10-17***************************
1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave
them power and authority to drive out all demons and
to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the
kingdom of God and to heal the sick...

10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what
they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew
by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds
learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and
spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those
who needed healing.

12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said,
"Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding
villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because
we are in a remote place here."

13 He replied, "You give them something to eat."
They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two
fish-unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." 14 (About
five thousand men were there.)

But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups
of about fifty each." 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat
down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up
to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them
to the disciples to distribute to the people. 12 They all ate and
were satisfied, and the dsiciples picked up twelve basketfuls of
broken pieces that were left over.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The miracle of the feeding of the multitude is
recorded in all four gospels (see matt. 14:13-21; MARK 6:30-44; LUKE 9:10-17
JOHN 6:1-15). Each account provides specific details to help complete
the story Matthew tells us that the crowd numbered 5,000 men
plus women and children. Mark tells us that the people sat in
groups of 50 and 100. Luke informs us that this event is connected
to the disciples's report of their outreach trip. John's account tells
us that the food came from a young boy's lunch. ___Bill crowder