the desire of ages-第87章
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The disciples were the channel of communication between Christ and the people。 This should be a great encouragement to His disciples today。 Christ is the great center； the source of all strength。 His disciples are to receive their supplies from Him。 The most intelligent； the most spiritually minded； can bestow only as they receive。 Of themselves they can supply nothing for the needs of the soul。 We can impart only that which we receive from Christ； and we can receive only as we impart to others。 As we continue imparting； we continue to receive； and the more we impart； the more we shall receive。 Thus we may be constantly believing； trusting； receiving； and imparting。
The work of building up the kingdom of Christ will go forward； though to all appearance it moves slowly and impossibilities seem to testify against advance。 The work is of God； and He will furnish means； and will send helpers； true； earnest disciples； whose hands also will be filled with food for the starving multitude。 God is not unmindful of those who labor in love to give the word of life to perishing souls； who in their turn reach forth their hands for food for other hungry souls。
In our work for God there is danger of relying too largely upon what man with his talents and ability can do。 Thus we lose sight of the one Master Worker。 Too often the worker for Christ fails to realize his personal responsibility。 He is in danger of shifting his burden upon organizations； instead of relying upon Him who is the source of all strength。 It is a great mistake to trust in human wisdom or numbers in the work of God。 Successful work for Christ depends not so much on numbers or talent as upon pureness of purpose； the true simplicity of earnest； dependent faith。 Personal responsibilities must be borne； personal duties must be taken up； personal efforts must be made for those who do not know Christ。 In the place of shifting your responsibility upon someone whom you think more richly endowed than you are； work according to your ability。
When the question comes home to your heart； 〃Whence shall we buy bread； that these may eat？〃 let not your answer be the response of unbelief。 When the disciples heard the Saviour's direction； 〃Give ye them to eat；〃 all the difficulties arose in their minds。 They questioned；
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Shall we go away into the villages to buy food？ So now； when the people are destitute of the bread of life； the Lord's children question； Shall we send for someone from afar； to come and feed them？ But what said Christ？ 〃Make the men sit down；〃 and He fed them there。 So when you are surrounded by souls in need； know that Christ is there。 Commune with Him。 Bring your barley loaves to Jesus。
The means in our possession may not seem to be sufficient for the work； but if we will move forward in faith； believing in the all…sufficient power of God； abundant resources will open before us。 If the work be of God； He Himself will provide the means for its accomplishment。 He will reward honest； simple reliance upon Him。 The little that is wisely and economically used in the service of the Lord of heaven will increase in the very act of imparting。 In the hand of Christ the small supply of food remained undiminished until the famished multitude were satisfied。 If we go to the Source of all strength； with our hands of faith outstretched to receive； we shall be sustained in our work； even under the most forbidding circumstances； and shall be enabled to give to others the bread of life。
The Lord says； 〃Give； and it shall be given unto you。〃 〃He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly； and he that soweth with blessings shall reap also with blessings。 。 。 。 And God is able to make all grace abound unto you； that ye； having always all sufficiency in everything； may abound unto every good work； as it is written；
〃He hath scattered abroad； he hath given to the poor： His righteousness abideth forever。
〃And He that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food； shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing； and increase the fruits of your righteousness： ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality； which worketh through us thanksgiving to God。〃 Luke 6：38； 2 Cor。 9：6…11； R。 V。； margin。
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Chapter 40
A Night on the Lake
Seated upon the grassy plain； in the twilight of the spring evening； the people ate of the food that Christ had provided。 The words they had heard that day had come to them as the voice of God。 The works of healing they had witnessed were such as only divine power could perform。 But the miracle of the loaves appealed to everyone in that vast multitude。 All were sharers in its benefit。 In the days of Moses； God had fed Israel with manna in the desert； and who was this that had fed them that day but He whom Moses had foretold？ No human power could create from five barley loaves and two small fishes food sufficient to feed thousands of hungry people。 And they said one to another； 〃This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world。〃
All day the conviction has strengthened。 That crowning act is assurance that the long…looked…for Deliverer is among them。 The hopes of the people rise higher and higher。 This is He who will make Judea an earthly paradise； a land flowing with milk and honey。 He can satisfy every desire。 He can break the power of the hated Romans。 He can deliver Judah and Jerusalem。 He can heal the soldiers who are wounded in battle。 He can supply whole armies with food。 He can conquer the nations； and give to Israel the long…sought dominion。
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In their enthusiasm the people are ready at once to crown Him king。 They see that He makes no effort to attract attention or secure honor to Himself。 In this He is essentially different from the priests and rulers； and they fear that He will never urge His claim to David's throne。 Consulting together； they agree to take Him by force； and proclaim Him the king of Israel。 The disciples unite with the multitude in declaring the throne of David the rightful inheritance of their Master。 It is the modesty of Christ； they say； that causes Him to refuse such honor。 Let the people exalt their Deliverer。 Let the arrogant priests and rulers be forced to honor Him who comes clothed with the authority of God。
They eagerly arrange to carry out their purpose； but Jesus sees what is on foot； and understands； as they cannot； what would be the result of such a movement。 Even now the priests and rulers are hunting His life。 They accuse Him of drawing the people away from them。 Violence and insurrection would follow an effort to place Him on the throne； and the work of the spiritual kingdom would be hindered。 Without delay the movement must be checked。 Calling His disciples； Jesus bids them take the boat and return at once to Capernaum； leaving Him to dismiss the people。
Never before had a command from Christ seemed so impossible of fulfillment。 The disciples had long hoped for a popular movement to place Jesus on the throne； they could not endure the thought that all this enthusiasm should come to nothing。 The multitudes that were assembling to keep the Passover were anxious to see the new prophet。 To His followers this seemed the golden opportunity to establish their beloved Master on the throne of Israel。 In the glow of this new ambition it was hard for them to go away by themselves； and leave Jesus alone upon that desolate shore。 They protested against the arrangement； but Jesus now spoke with an authority He had never before assumed toward them。 They knew that further opposition on their part would be useless； and in silence they turned toward the sea。
Jesus now commands the multitude to disperse； and His manner is so decisive that they dare not disobey。 The words of praise and exaltation die on their lips。 In the very act of advancing to seize Him their steps are stayed； and the glad； eager look fades from their countenances。 In that throng are men of strong mind and firm determination； but the kingly bearing of Jesus； and His fe
