You Give Them Something to Eat

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” —1 Peter 2:9

A recent text message read in part, “He is the fifth member of the team to get knocked off this trip. How do you feel about preaching on 1 Peter 2:9 on the opening night of the conference?”

My first thought was a Moses-at-the-burning-bush moment: Here I am, send someone else. My actual reply was a little more restrained: “I need to pray. Can I give you an answer in a couple of days?”

I had already committed to helping with the conference in Germany. The attendees will be Persian diaspora believers—many of them first-generation Christians. My role did not include preaching. To be honest, preaching feels way out of my comfort zone. Think Bob Uecker in Major League describing a wild pitch: “Juuuuust a little outside.”

A good friend recently reminded me of Jettekiah 8:22 (my paraphrase of Matthew 6:33): We are in the obedience business. God is in the outcome business. In prayer, I confessed: “Lord, you know me. You know I can’t do this on my own. But if you’ll do it with me, I’m in. Only—please confirm it so I’ll know this assignment is from you.”

With time running out to give my answer, I shared my dilemma with Sharon on our morning prayer walk. When we got back, we each went to our quiet places. The day’s Bible study passage was Mark 6:30–44—the feeding of the five thousand. My quick paraphrase:

• Jesus and the disciples are exhausted, looking for a place to rest, debrief, and pray.
  
• But the crowds find them. Moved with compassion, Jesus begins to teach.
  
• As evening falls, the disciples suggest sending the people away for food.
  
• Jesus says: “You give them something to eat.”

When I reread those words, I knew instantly this was the Lord’s answer. Just to seal it, Sharon walked over unprompted and said aloud: “You give them something to eat.”

Being Jesus’ apprentice is never dull. His answers to prayer are seldom early, but never late—and always customized for each of us.

So, in obedience, we’ll preach together. And like the loaves and fish, Jesus will multiply what little we bring. He’ll be responsible for the outcome. I get the privilege of simply showing up, running the play, and enjoying the journey.

Here’s the point: obedience always leads to light, and it is its own reward.

Run the play so that you “may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

“We are in the obedience business. God is in the outcome business.”

Jettekiah 8:22

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💬 Finding Our Place in the Story

Where in your life is Jesus saying to you, “You give them something to eat”—a place of obedience that feels beyond your ability?

How do you typically view obedience: as a burden, or as a privilege that frees you to trust God with the outcome?

In what ways can your obedience this week “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”?

🙏 Please Pray